conduite

Forms

conduite f (plural conduites)^[1]

Etymology

It is from French conduire, the verb's feminine past participle used as a noun.^[2][3][4][5] The verb comes from Latin condūcō (“to lead, conduct”).^[6] Wiktionary instead derives it directly from conducta, comparing Italian condotta.^[1]

The masculine conduit, older (12th century), also meant “escort, protection” in Old French.^[6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Isopet de Lyon (13th century) uses it for the action of leading or escorting someone, hence an escort.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It became the action noun of conduire in its main senses: escorting, directing an enterprise (1465), the art of handling a literary work (1530), the way one behaves (1680), and, very late, driving a vehicle (1928), probably after conducteur.^[7][2] Some concrete uses for a pipe (before 1628) competed with conduit, but conduite left the anatomical sense “canal” (before 1590) to it.^[7][2] The opposite inconduite (1693) only means improper behaviour.^[7][6]

Timeline

• 13th century – The Isopet de Lyon uses it for escorting someone.^[2]
• 1465 – A letter of Louis XI uses it for the direction of an affair.^[2][7]
• c. 1520 – Prendre la conduycte de “to take the inclination of” appears.^[2]
• 1530 – Palsgrave records the art of conducting a work of the mind.^[2][7]
• before 1590 – Ambroise Paré uses it for an anatomical canal.^[2]
• before 1628 – Malherbe uses it for a water pipe.^[2][7]
• 1680 – Richelet records the sense “way of behaving”.^[2][7]
• 1693 – Inconduite is formed.^[6][7]
• 1928 – Mauriac uses it for driving a car, and for the closed car called conduite intérieure.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. The action of leading, guiding or escorting: sous la conduite de, faire un bout de conduite à quelqu'un “to walk part of the way with someone”.^[2][8]
2. Driving a vehicle: la conduite à gauche;^[8][2] (dated) conduite intérieure, a saloon car.^[8][2]
3. The direction or management of an affair, an undertaking or a piece of work.^[8][2]
4. Behaviour, conduct: ligne de conduite, bonne conduite.^[8][1]
5. A pipe or duct for water or gas.^[2][4][1]

Word family

• inconduite

Related words

• conduit
• conduire
• Latin condūcō

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 j k l m n o p q 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
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. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert