constater

Forms

constater^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin cōnstat (“it is certain”), the impersonal third person singular of cōnstō (“to stand firm, be established”), with the verb ending -er.^[2][3][4][5] The same Latin form had given a legal formula, and the verb's present participle gave constant; coûter comes from the same Latin verb.^[4] Since constatation is found as early as 1586, the verb may be older than its first record.^[6][4][3] Littré thought it formed, rather oddly, from cum and Latin status (“state”).^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1726 in the Mémoires de Trévoux, in constater un fait, to make a fact certain by proofs.^[2][8]

Semantic evolution

The verb expresses establishing the truth by direct experience, both in law, where it means recording in writing what has been established, and in everyday use, where it means “to notice, realize”.^[4] The older sense “to make certain” is now dated; the Académie recorded “to note” and “to record officially” in 1835.^[8] The derivative constatation became normal only from 1844–45,^[4][3] and the Latin form itself was borrowed as constat in 1890, first as the opening word of an official report.^[4][3]

Timeline

• 1586 – An isolated constatation.^[4][3]
• 1726 – First record of constater un fait in the Mémoires de Trévoux.^[2]
• 1835 – The Académie records the senses “to note” and “to record”.^[8]
• 1845 – Constatable and constatation are recorded.^[2][3]
• 1890 – Constat is borrowed from the Latin form.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To establish the truth of something by direct experience, to notice or realize: elle a constaté une erreur dans les comptes.^[9][8][1]
2. (law) To record officially in writing, to certify: constater par procès-verbal, faire constater les dégâts.^[2][9][7]
3. (dated) To make a fact certain by proofs.^[8][7]

Word family

• constatation
• constatable
• constateur

Related words

• constat
• constant
• coûter
• Latin cōnstō

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 1082a
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
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. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert