calculateur

Forms

calculateur (feminine calculatrice, masculine plural calculateurs, feminine plural calculatrices)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin calculātor, a Latin noun of the imperial period derived from calculō (“to calculate”).^[2][3][4][5] The TLFi, the GLLF and Wiktionary instead treat it as formed in French on calculer with the suffix -ateur, Wiktionary comparing the Latin word.^[6][7][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1546 for “someone who knows how to do sums”, in Robert Estienne's Latin–French dictionary according to the TLFi; the GLLF dates it to the same year from Budé.^[6][7]

Semantic evolution

The first sense, “a person skilled at reckoning”, gave way in common use to the figurative sense “someone skilled at working out plans”, recorded from 1794 in Chamfort and often pejorative.^[2][6] The feminine calculatrice is in Stendhal in 1822.^[6]

Applied to things, the masculine named a machine in calculateur mécanique (1859).^[6][2] The feminine calculatrice came to name a calculating machine about 1960, and calculatrice électronique is recorded in 1962; the pocket models are also called calculettes.^[5][6][2] The masculine now names a computer specialized in calculation.^[5][8]

Timeline

• 1546 – First recorded, of a person who can do sums.^[6][7][2]
• 1794 – Chamfort uses it for someone skilled at working out plans.^[6][2]
• 1822 – The feminine calculatrice is in Stendhal.^[6]
• 1859 – Calculateur mécanique names a machine.^[6][2]
• 1962 – Calculatrice électronique is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. A person who knows how to calculate; a reckoner.^[5][8][6]
2. (masculine) A computer specialized in calculation rather than data management: calculateur numérique, calculateur analogique.^[5][8]

Adjective

1. Skilled at working out plans and projects;^[5][8][2] (pejorative) calculating, acting from self-interest.^[5][8][2]

Related words

• calculer
• calcul
• calculatrice
• calculette
• Latin calculātor

Usage notes

Beaumarchais's line il fallait un calculateur, ce fut un danseur qui l'obtint became a proverbial saying about posts given out carelessly.^[5] The feminine noun calculatrice is the usual word for a calculator.^[5][2]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 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
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 Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)