biennal

Forms

biennal (feminine biennale, masculine plural biennaux, feminine plural biennales)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin biennālis (“of two years”), a legal term.^[2][3][4] The Latin adjective is formed from bi- (“twice”) and annālis (“of the year”), from annus (“year”).^[3][5][6] The GLLF derives it directly from bis and the noun for “year”.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record, of 6 July 1550, is in the municipal archives of Rouen, of offices that were not held for life but for a term, comme annaulx, biennaulx et triennaulx “such as yearly, two-yearly and three-yearly ones”; the sense is “renewed every two years”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The word, used of what lasts two years or comes round every two years, entered the dictionaries only with the Académie's edition of 1762.^[2][3] The feminine noun biennale names an artistic or cultural event held every two years; it is first found in 1936, of the Venice Biennale, held for the first time in 1934.^[3][2][8] English biennial (1620s) was formed directly from Latin.^[9]

Timeline

• 1550 – First record, in the municipal archives of Rouen.^[2][3]
• 1762 – The Académie enters it in its dictionary.^[2][3]
• 1936 – The noun biennale is used of the Venice exhibition.^[2][8]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Lasting two years, or valid for two years: un mandat biennal.^[8][2]
2. Happening every two years; bisannuel: un salon biennal.^[8][7][2]

Noun

1. Biennale (feminine): an exhibition, festival or other event held every two years, as la Biennale de Venise.^[8][7]

Related words

• triennal
• bisannuel
• annuel
• Latin annus
• English biennial

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ 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. ^ 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 c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com