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caractérisation

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Etymology and origin of the French word caractérisation

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1840 Pierre Leroux, De l'Humanité More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
French caractériser,-ation

Pronunciation

  • /ka.ʁak.te.ʁi.za.sjɔ̃/[1]

Forms

caractérisation f (plural caractérisations)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French caractériser + -ation.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi and the Grand Robert first record it in 1840 in Pierre Leroux's De l'Humanité, for the act of characterizing.[2][3][4] The GLLF dates it only to the early 20th century.[5]

Semantic evolution

Besides the act or manner of characterizing, it became a term of the sciences for an analysis that leads to defining and classifying the members of a set.[2] In linguistics it names the function by which one element adds its meaning to another, as an adjective does to a noun.[5][4] Technical French also uses it for testing that a product meets its specifications.[6]

Timeline

  • 1840 – First recorded in Pierre Leroux.[2][3]
  • Early 20th century – The GLLF's date for the word.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The act of characterizing, or the way in which something is characterized: la caractérisation d'un personnage.[7][8][9]
  2. (sciences) An analysis that leads to the definition and classification of the elements of a set.[2]
  3. (linguistics) The function by which one element adds its meaning to another, as an adjective does to a noun.[5]
  4. (technology) Checking by tests that a product meets its specifications.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
  7. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  9. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Caractérisation.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/caract%C3%A9risation. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·