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évaluation

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Etymology and origin of the French word évaluation

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1365 Oresme More words from the 14th century
Ultimate origin
Latin valeō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French évaluer
English evaluate
French évaluation
English evaluation
From the same root
French sous-évaluer ← évaluer

Pronunciation

  • /e.va.lɥa.sjɔ̃/[1]

Forms

évaluation f (plural évaluations)[1] Middle French evaluacion (1365).[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is formed from French évaluer + -ation.[2][1][3] The verb (1366, esvaluer) was formed with the prefix é- from value (“value, price”), and replaced an older avaluer (1283).[2][1] The noun is related to valoir and valeur.[5][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

As evaluacion it is first found in 1365, in the prologue of Oresme's treatise on money, meaning the act of setting a value on something.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Besides the act of valuing, the word came by metonymy (1691) to mean the value or quantity arrived at.[6][7] It gave the compound réévaluation (1929).[6] In modern French it is also used of assessing knowledge and of evaluation methods.[4]

Timeline

  • 1365 – Oresme uses evaluacion for the act of valuing.[2]
  • 1691 – It is used of the value or quantity arrived at.[6][7]
  • 1929 – The compound réévaluation appears.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The act of evaluating, of determining the value or importance of something, an estimation: l'évaluation d'un héritage.[4][8][2]
  2. An assessment of knowledge or skills: l'évaluation des élèves.[4]
  3. The value or quantity so determined.[4][7][8]

Word family

  • réévaluation

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  8. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Évaluation.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/%C3%A9valuation. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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