Etymology and origin of the French word centime
- Confidence
- Established
- Formation
- Derivation
- First attested
- 1793 Decree of the National Convention More words from the 18th century
- Ultimate origin
- Latin centum
Etymology tree
From the same root
Pronunciation
- /sɑ̃.tim/[1]
Forms
centime m (plural centimes)[1]
Etymology
It is formed from French cent + -ime on the model of décime, the tenth of the franc.[2][3][1][4] The word was created by a decree of the National Convention of 24 August 1793, which divided that coin into ten parts.[2][5] Littré derived it from Latin centēsimus (“hundredth”).[6]
Earliest recorded meaning
It is first recorded in the decree of the National Convention of 24 August 1793: chacune de ces parties portera le nom de centime “each of these parts shall be called a centime”, the hundredth part of the franc.[2]
Semantic evolution
Like sou, the word came to mean a trifling sum, as in pas un centime “not a penny”.[5][7][8] In public finance centimes additionnels were a surcharge levied in proportion to the main direct taxes.[7][6] English borrowed the word in 1801 for the French coin.[9] Since the euro replaced the franc, it also names the hundredth of a euro.[8][5]
Timeline
- 1793 – A decree of the National Convention names the hundredth of the franc centime.[2]
- 1801 – English borrows the word.[9]
- 1848 – Balzac uses it as a feminine noun in popular speech.[2]
Meanings
Noun
- The hundredth part of the franc, and a coin of that value.[2][8]
- A very small sum: pas un centime “not a penny”.[8][7]
- (finance, historical) Centimes additionnels: a surcharge levied in proportion to the main direct taxes.[7][8]
- A cent, the hundredth part of the euro.[8][1]
Related words
Usage notes
In popular usage the word was sometimes feminine, as in Balzac's Le Cousin Pons (1848).[2]
References
- ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g 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
- ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
- ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
- ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
- ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry
“Centime.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/centime. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.
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