attribut

Forms

attribut m (plural attributs)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Medieval Latin attribūtum (“property, quality”),^[2][3][1][4] recorded from the 8th–9th century and a term of philosophy from the 13th.^[2] The Latin word means a thing attributed and comes from Latin attribuō (“to assign, attribute”), from ad- and tribuō (“to assign”).^[5][6][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the poem La Complainte de Nature à l'alchimiste errant, where man is said to have a spirit comme ange en attributs (“like an angel in attributes”).^[6][7] Littré and the GLLF place the poem in the 14th century; the BHVF dates it about 1516 and assigns it to Jean Perréal.^[6][7][8]

Semantic evolution

In French the word kept the general sense of a quality proper to a being or thing, and in theology named the perfections of God.^[2][6] It also came to name the emblem that goes with a symbolic or mythological figure, such as a saint's or a Muse's sign.^[2][9] In grammar (1680) it is the word linked to the subject or object by the verb être.^[2]

Timeline

• 14th century – First record, in an alchemical poem.^[6][7]
• c. 1516 – The BHVF's date for the same poem.^[8]
• 1516 – The derivative attributif is recorded in law.^[2]
• 1680 – First use as a grammatical term.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A quality or characteristic proper to a being or thing; specifically, a part of the body proper to a person or animal.^[5][10][1]
2. (theology) One of the perfections that belong to God's own essence, such as justice or wisdom: les attributs divins.^[6]
3. An emblem or symbol that goes with a mythological or allegorical figure, a saint, or a personified thing.^[9][10]
4. (grammar, logic) The predicate or complement linked to the subject by être or a similar verb.^[6][2][1]
5. (computing) An attribute in object-oriented programming.^[1]

Word family

• attributif

Related words

• attribuable
• attribuer
• attributaire
• attribution
• Latin attribūtum

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 25, 750a
5. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f g Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
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 Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
9. ^ a b 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
10. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)