Etymologically
Log in

coïncider

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 21:02. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /kɔ.ɛ̃.si.de/[1]

Forms

coïncider[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Medieval Latin coincidere (“to fall together at one point”) (13th century),[2][3][4][5] a scholastic Latin compound of com- and incidō (“to fall into, happen”).[3][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Oresme's Livre du ciel et du monde (1370–1377) has Ceste rayson coïncide ou est pres de la premiere “this reasoning coincides with or is close to the first”, of ideas that correspond.[2][7]

Semantic evolution

The word stayed a learned term for abstract things that agree.[3] The Encyclopédie (1753) gave it its geometrical sense, of lines or surfaces that fit together exactly when superposed.[2][3] The temporal sense, “to happen at the same time”, is in Condorcet (1794): L'invention de l'imprimerie coïncide presque avec deux autres événements.[2] Coïncidence (1464) and coïncident (1534) developed in step with the verb.[3]

Timeline

  • 13th century – Scholastic Latin coincidere.[2]
  • 1370–1377 – Coïncide in Oresme.[2]
  • 1464 – Coïcidance.[3]
  • 1753 – The geometrical sense, in the Encyclopédie.[2]
  • 1794 – “To happen at the same time”, in Condorcet.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To coincide, happen at the same time: sa venue coïncide avec l'événement.[8][9]
  2. To correspond exactly, agree: les deux témoignages coïncident.[8][10]
  3. (geometry) To coincide, fit together exactly when superposed.[8][2]

Word family

  • coïncidence
  • coïncident
  • coïncidence
  • coïncident
  • incident
  • English coincide

References

  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ 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. 4, 623b
  6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  10. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse