accord

Pronunciation

• IPA: /a.kɔʁ/^[1]

Forms

accord m (plural accords)^[1]

Etymology

It is a back-formation from accorder, Old French acorder.^[2][3][4][5] The verb continues Vulgar Latin *accordō, formed with ad- after concordō (“to agree”) and discordō, from cor (“heart”).^[3][4][1][6] The musical sense of the verb arose under the influence of chorda (“string”), whence corde.^[3][4]

Old French also had the synonyms “accorde” (1080) and “accordance” (1172).^[2][3] The spelling “accord” dates from Middle French (14th century).^[3] Cognate with Old Occitan acort, Spanish acuerdo and Italian accordo.^[7][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

After 1160 Wace's Roman de Rou uses acort for a pact sealed by an oath, and also in d'un acort “of one accord”: Tuit furent d'un acort e d'une volenté “all were of one accord and one will”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The idea of agreement between persons gave être d'accord and mettre d'accord (1538, found already in 1512), and in the 17th century the elliptic d'accord !, familiarly shortened to d'ac in the 20th century.^[3][9] From 1350 it also meant “betrothal”, a sense now lost.^[2][3]

Under the influence of corde, accord named musical harmony (1341) and later a chord.^[2][3] In 1538 it was used of harmony between things, in 1677 of colours in painting, and in 1690 of grammatical agreement.^[2][3] Several languages borrowed the musical sense, among them German Akkord and Swedish ackord.^[1]

Timeline

• After 1160 – Acort, a sworn pact, in Wace's Roman de Rou.^[2]
• 1341 – Harmony of sounds, in the Miracles de Notre-Dame.^[2]
• 1350 – The sense “betrothal”.^[2]
• 1538 – Mettre d'accord and harmony between things, in Robert Estienne.^[2][3]
• 17th century – The exclamation d'accord !.^[3]
• 1677 – Harmony of colours, in Roger de Piles.^[2]
• 1690 – Grammatical agreement, in Furetière.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. agreement, harmony between people: vivre en accord, d'un commun accord.^[10][11]
2. D'accord: agreed, être d'accord, to agree.^[10][1]
3. consent, permission: donner son accord.^[11][1]
4. An agreement, arrangement, treaty: un accord de coopération.^[11][10]
5. (music) A chord; the tuning of an instrument.^[1][12]
6. (grammar) concord, agreement: l'accord du participe.^[3]

Word family

• accorder
• d'accord
• désaccord

Related words

• concorde
• cœur
• corde

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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 d e f g h i j k l Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 24, 84a
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1935), Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., Heidelberg: Winter
9. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
10. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
12. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse