action

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ak.sjɔ̃/^[1]

Forms

action f (plural actions)^[1] Old French acciun, aucion; the spelling was later remade after Latin.^[1][2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin āctiō (“doing, acting; legal action”), from agō (“to do”) (see agir).^{[3][2][4][5][6]} Its first use, “action de grâce” “thanksgiving”, is a calque of Latin grātiārum āctiō, and Christian Latin also used “actio” for the giving of thanks.^[4][5]

The financial sense “share” (1669) is probably from “action” “claim, asset” in the 17th century, by way of Dutch actie.^[3][5] Bloch and Wartburg disagree: the Dutch word had another sense and is itself rather of French origin, through German Aktie, and “action” took the new sense after actif “assets”.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Psautier de Cambridge (mid-12th century) has acciun de grace, a religious expression of thanks to God.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The general sense “what someone does” is recorded in 1250 in Gautier de Coinci, and the legal sense, a right to sue and a lawsuit, in Beaumanoir in 1283.^[2][4][7] In the 14th century it was also a manner of acting, and Oresme defined it as “operation”.^[3][7] The theatrical sense was already Latin, and in the 16th and 17th centuries it was also an orator's delivery or plea.^[4]

The financial action “share” appears in 1669 in Colbert, and the figurative ses actions montent “his stock is rising” comes from it.^[3][5][8] In Switzerland action is a special offer in a shop.^[1]

Timeline

• mid-12th century – Acciun de grace, Psautier de Cambridge.^[2]
• 1250 – “Deed”, Gautier de Coinci.^[2]
• 1283 – A lawsuit, Beaumanoir.^[4][2]
• 14th century – “Manner of acting”.^[3]
• 1669 – A share, Colbert.^[3][8]
• 1954 – Action psychologique.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. An act, a deed: une bonne action, action d'éclat.^[5][1]
2. The fact of producing an effect; an influence: l'action du médicament, sous l'action du gel, en action, at work.^[5]
3. Action as opposed to thought: homme d'action, passer à l'action.^[2][5]
4. A campaign, an organized operation; a military engagement.^[1][5]
5. (physics) Action: principe de moindre action.^[5]
6. The plot or events of a play, novel or film.^[4][2]
7. (law) A lawsuit, a right to sue: intenter une action.^[4][7]
8. (finance) A share in a company: société par actions.^[5][1]
9. Action de grâce(s): thanksgiving.^[4][1]
10. (Switzerland) A special offer.^[1]

Word family

• actionner
• inaction
• réaction
• actionnaire

Related words

• acte
• agir
• agent
• actif
• Latin actio

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
3. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 24, 114b
7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF