décalquer

Forms

décalquer^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French dé- + calquer.^{[2][3][4][1][5]} Rey describes it as a derivative made to serve as a semantic doublet of the simple verb.^[6]

The simple verb (1642) was taken from Italian calcare (“to press”), the same Latin verb calcō (“to tread”) that gave Old French chauchier (“to trample”).^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The verb is first recorded in 1691, in D'Aviler, meaning to transfer a traced design onto another surface.^[2][4][3] Bloch and Wartburg date it to 1694.^[7]

Semantic evolution

Littré defines it as carrying the lines of a traced drawing over onto another sheet of paper or canvas.^[8] The TLFi adds a figurative use, to reproduce or imitate slavishly, sometimes with a pejorative shade.^[2]

The verb produced the noun décalque (1845, Bloch and Wartburg give 1837),^[6][7] later rivalled by décalquage and décalcage (1870),^[6] and décalcomanie (1840), formed with the element -manie, for the process of transferring images onto a smooth surface and then for the image itself.^[6][7]

Timeline

• 1642 – First record of the simple verb calquer.^[7]
• 1691 – Décalquer appears in D'Aviler.^[2][4][6]
• 1694 – Date given by Bloch and Wartburg.^[7]
• 1840 – The derivative décalcomanie appears.^[6][7]
• 1845 – The noun décalque is recorded.^[6]
• 1870 – Décalquage and décalcage are recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To transfer a tracing of a drawing, map or picture onto another surface such as paper, canvas or fabric: décalquer un plan de la ville.^[9][10][2]
2. To trace a drawing by following its outlines through transparent paper or with carbon paper;^[11][2][9] papier à décalquer is tracing paper.^[11][2][9]
3. (figurative) To copy or imitate slavishly, often disparagingly.^[2]

Word family

• décalque
• décalquage
• décalcage
• décalcomanie

Related words

• calquer
• calque
• Italian calcare

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c 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, 65b
6. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e f g Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
11. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)