Etymologically
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choix

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Pronunciation

Forms

choix m (invariable)[1] Old French chois.[2][1]

Etymology

It is a deverbal noun from choisir.[2][3][4][5] “Choisir”, which in Old French meant above all “to perceive, make out”, comes according to Bloch and Wartburg from Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐌿𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽 (kausjan, “to test, taste”), borrowed early, probably as a military term, Wiktionary instead gives Frankish *keusan, compare German kiesen and English choose.[4][6][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Wace's Brut (1155) has prendre a chois “to take freely, at one's discretion”, and his Roman de Rou (1160–74) metre a chois “to leave someone free to choose”.[2]

Semantic evolution

Cotgrave (1611) records the act of choosing and a range of things to choose from.[2] From the 17th century it also meant the best of a merchandise (Savary, 1675), and in general what has been chosen for its quality (Furetière, 1690), whence de choix “choice, select” (1834) and de premier choix, and surchoix (1816).[2][7] L'embarras du choix “too much to choose from” is a common phrase.[1]

Timeline

  • 1155 – Prendre a chois, Wace.[2]
  • 1611 – The act of choosing; a selection, Cotgrave.[2]
  • 1675 – The best of a merchandise, Savary.[2]
  • 1816 – Surchoix.[7]
  • 1834 – De choix, Landais.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A choice, decision: faire un choix, arrêter son choix sur.[8][1]
  2. Choice, freedom to choose: avoir le choix, ne pas avoir le choix, au choix, as you wish.[8][9]
  3. A selection, range: un grand choix de livres, l'embarras du choix.[2][1]
  4. De choix: choice, of high quality, de premier choix, top-quality.[2][7]
  5. (sports) A draft pick.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 16, 303a
  6. ^ Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1935), Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., Heidelberg: Winter
  7. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse