condition
Pronunciation
- IPA: /kɔ̃.di.sjɔ̃/[1]
Forms
condition f (plural conditions)[1]
Etymology
It is borrowed from Latin condiciō (“agreement, stipulation; situation, state”) (Late Latin spelling conditio, which gave the ⟨t⟩).[2][3][4][5][6][1] The Latin word is formed with cum (“with”) on the legal term diciō (“formula of command, authority”), related to dīcō (“to say”).[3][7] It first meant an agreement between two parties, then the situation arising from it, and situation in general, Cicero's phrase for “the human condition” led in Late Latin to the sense “slavery”.[3][2] The Grand Robert and the GLLF derive it from condīcō (“to agree upon”).[5][8]
Cognate with Occitan condicion, Spanish condición and Italian condizione.[7][9]
Earliest recorded meaning
Benoît de Sainte-Maure's Roman de Troie (1154–73) has par condicion que “on condition that”, a clause on which an agreement depends.[2][3]
Semantic evolution
The social sense, one's rank by birth, appears in 1270–85; at first, as in Latin, it was tied to servitude (en condiction, 1288, personnes de condicion “bondsmen”, 1352), whence être en condition chez quelqu'un “to be in someone's service”, still used early in the 20th century.[2][3] From 1474 it meant noble rank, as in personne de condition (1627) and dame de condition (1647).[2][3]
The general sense “state, situation” is in Jean de Meun (about 1278), but the philosophical la condition humaine only dates from before 1703 (Saint-Évremond).[2][3] Condition sine qua non is recorded in 1704, à condition de in 1787, conditions de vie in 1893.[2] Furetière (1690) uses it for the qualities needed for a purpose, whence en condition “fit”, of a horse (1863) and of an athlete (1924).[2]
Timeline
- 1154–1173 – Par condicion que, Benoît de Sainte-Maure.[2]
- 1270–1285 – Social rank.[2]
- c. 1278 – “State, situation”, Jean de Meun.[2][3]
- 1474 – Noble rank.[2]
- Before 1703 – La condition humaine, Saint-Évremond.[2]
- 1704 – Condition sine qua non.[2]
- 1787 – À condition de.[2]
Meanings
Noun
- A condition, stipulation: sous condition, à condition de, à condition que, condition sine qua non.[7][1]
- (plural) Terms: conditions de paiement, conditions générales de vente.[1][7]
- (plural) Circumstances: conditions de vie, de travail, dans ces conditions.[1][2]
- The situation of a being: la condition humaine, la condition féminine.[7][2]
- (dated) Social rank: de condition modeste, une personne de condition, a person of rank.[7][3]
- Physical state, fitness: être en bonne condition physique.[2][7]
Word family
- conditionnel
- conditionner
- conditionnement
- inconditionnel
Related words
References
- ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ 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
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
- ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 1019a
- ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
- ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette