chronomètre

Forms

chronomètre m (plural chronomètres)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French chrono- + -mètre,^[2][3][1] from Ancient Greek χρόνος (khrónos, “time”) and μέτρον (métron, “measure”).^[1][4][5] The Petit Robert names a model in scholarly Latin, chronometrum.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1701 in Sauveur's Principes d'acoustique et de musique, as a term of music for the instrument now called a métronome.^[2][7][8]

Semantic evolution

The musical sense was later displaced by métronome.^[7] From 1753, in the Encyclopédie, the word belonged to watchmaking, for an instrument that measures time exactly;^[2][7][8] the marine chronometer kept on board ship allowed sailors to calculate their longitude.^[2]

It became an everyday word, shortened in familiar speech to chrono (1937), above all in sport, where chrono also means the time recorded.^[7] It produced chronométrer (1896), with chronométrage (1907) and chronométreur (1892).^[7]

Timeline

• 1701 – Sauveur uses it for a musical metronome.^[2][7]
• 1753 – The Encyclopédie uses it in watchmaking.^[2][7][8]
• 1892 – Chronométreur is recorded.^[7]
• 1896 – The verb chronométrer appears.^[7]
• 1937 – The familiar clipping chrono appears.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. An instrument for measuring a length of time very precisely; a stopwatch.^[6][9][1]
2. A precision watch that has passed an official rating test;^{[6][8][10][2]} chronomètre de marine, a ship's chronometer.^{[6][8][10][2]}
3. (figurative) Réglé comme un chronomètre: perfectly regular.^[6]
4. (music, obsolete) The former name of the metronome.^[2][4]

Word family

• chrono
• chronométrer
• chronométrage
• chronométreur

Related words

• chronométrie
• chronométrique
• chronographe
• métronome

References

1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
6. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
10. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)