chose

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ʃoz/^[1]
• IPA (Quebec): /ʃoʊ̯z/^[1]

Forms

chose f (plural choses)^[1] Cosa (842), cose (881), chiose (about 1125), chose (about 1174).^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French chose, inherited from Latin causa (“cause, lawsuit; matter”).^[2][4][5][6] In legal language “causa” was often used beside rēs (“thing”) (whence rien), and, from it took the senses “affair” and, in Late Latin, “thing”, replacing “rēs”.^[2][6][5] Littré notes it in this sense in the Salic Law, Gregory of Tours and the Capitularies.^[7] cause is a learned doublet.^[1][8]

Cognate with Italian cosa, Spanish cosa, Portuguese coisa and Old Occitan cauza.^[6][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Strasbourg Oaths (842) have cosa, a reality determined by the context: in cadhuna cosa “in every thing”.^[3] Niule cose “nothing” is found in the Sequence of Saint Eulalia (about 880).^[3][2]

Semantic evolution

The first sense was “a reality more or less defined by the context”, sometimes philosophically opposed to appearance, to idea or to word.^[2] Its vagueness made it fit to stand for many terms: from the 12th century it was a euphemism for sexual intercourse (la cose fere) and the sexual organs.^[2][3] La chose publique (1352–56) translates Latin res publica.^[3][2] In the 16th century it took the sense of “inanimate thing” as opposed to a person, and named something or someone whose name one has forgotten.^[2][3] Quelque chose (early 14th century) replaced Old French auques.^[3][6] The adjective tout chose “odd, out of sorts” dates from 1739.^[3]

Timeline

• 842 – Cosa in the Strasbourg Oaths.^[3]
• c. 880 – Niule cose “nothing”.^[3]
• late 12th century – La cose fere, a euphemism.^[3]
• early 14th century – Quelque chose.^[3]
• 1352–56 – La chose publique.^[3]
• 16th century – For something whose name escapes one.^[3]
• 1739 – Tout chose.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A thing: any reality, concrete or abstract: chaque chose en son temps.^[8][1]
2. An inanimate object, as opposed to a person.^[9][2]
3. Les choses: things, reality, the situation: les choses sont ainsi.^[8]
4. What one owns or can dispose of.^[9]
5. Quelque chose: something, peu de chose: little, not much.^[3]
6. (familiar, masculine) Chose: what's-his-name: Monsieur Chose.^[3][8]

Adjective

1. (familiar) Tout chose: odd, out of sorts.^[3]

Word family

• chosette

Related words

• cause
• causer
• rien
• Latin causa

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r 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
4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 541a
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse