Etymologically
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calendrier

Etymology and origin of the French word calendrier

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Inherited
First attested
1119, Philippe de Thaon (kalendier)
Inherited from
Latin calendarium via Old French
Ultimate origin
Latin (kalendae)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ka.lɑ̃.dʁi.je/[1]

Forms

calendrier m (plural calendriers)[1] Kalendier (1119), chalandrier (1339), kalendrier (1372).[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French kalendier, inherited from Latin calendārium (“account book”),[2][3][5][4][1][6] reshaped with an ⟨r⟩ inserted for no apparent phonetic reason.[2][3] In classical Latin calendārium was a register of debts (Seneca), from Latin kalendae (“the first day of the month”), because interest was paid on that day;[3][5][7] the modern sense appears in Late and Church Latin (10th century).[2][5] See calendes.[4]

calendaire is a learned doublet.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Philippe de Thaon's Comput (1119) has kalendier for the calendar.[2][7]

Semantic evolution

The word names a system of dividing time into years, months and days, calendrier julien, grégorien, the Republican calendar of 1793,[7][8] and by metonymy the printed table of days.[3][7] A shepherd's wooden calendar is mentioned in 1372.[2] By extension it is a programme or schedule, and in sport the official list of fixtures (1872).[3]

Timeline

  • 1119 – Kalendier.[2][4]
  • 1339 – Chalandrier.[2][3]
  • 1372 – Kalendrier.[2][4]
  • 1793 – The Republican calendar.[7]
  • 1872 – A sporting fixture list.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A calendar, a system of reckoning time.[8][1]
  2. A printed calendar showing the days of the year.[8][1]
  3. A schedule or timetable: calendrier des examens.[8][1]

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 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 82a
  7. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Calendrier.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/calendrier. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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