Etymologically
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conversation

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /kɔ̃.vɛʁ.sa.sjɔ̃/[1]

Forms

conversation f (plural conversations)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin conversātiō (“frequenting, dealings, intimacy”), from the supine of conversor (“to associate with”) (see converser).[2][3][4][5]

Cognate with Italian conversazione and Spanish conversación.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Benoît de Sainte-Maure's Chronique des ducs de Normandie (about 1160) uses it for a way of life, a person's dealings with others: humle est sa conversations “humble is his manner of life”.[2][6]

Semantic evolution

The old sense “way of life, dealings” lasted until the late 17th century; in medieval texts it also covered behaviour and a religious life, as in Anglo-Norman.[2][6][7] In classical French it also meant company kept and a social gathering (Académie, 1694).[4]

The modern sense, an exchange of words, appears in the 16th century (1537 in the Petit Robert, 1563 in Palissy in the TLFi), and “manner of conversing” is recorded by the Académie in 1718.[8][2] From the 17th century the polite conversation of the salons became an art in itself, and the word later named secret or diplomatic talks.[4][8]

Timeline

  • c. 1160 – “Way of life”, Benoît de Sainte-Maure.[2]
  • 1537 – An exchange of words.[8]
  • 1563 – The same sense in Palissy.[2]
  • 1675 – Last record of “dealings”, Widerhold.[2]
  • 1694 – A company, a gathering, Académie.[4]
  • 1718 – “Manner of conversing”, Académie.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A conversation, talk; what is said in one: engager la conversation, changer de conversation, conversation téléphonique.[8][1]
  2. (plural) Talks between a few responsible people, often in private: conversations diplomatiques.[8]
  3. Everyday spoken language: dans la conversation courante; someone's way of talking: avoir de la conversation.[8]
  4. A small meringue-topped frangipane cake.[8]
  5. (obsolete) Dealings, company kept.[4][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c 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 c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 1132b
  6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert