décentraliser

Forms

décentraliser^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French dé- + centraliser.^{[2][3][4][5][1][6]} Rey places it, with décentralisation (before 1829) and décentralisateur (1845), among the words for the balance between the single executive power of the State and local institutions.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is recorded in 1827, meaning to make local authorities less dependent on the central power.^[3][4][7] The TLFi's first record is Landais's dictionary of 1834.^[2][8]

Semantic evolution

Littré still marks it as a néologisme, with the reflexive se décentraliser “to cease being centralized”,^[5] and the Académie admitted it in 1878.^[8] In the mid-20th century it came to mean spreading across the country administrative or industrial bodies that had been grouped in one place, especially moving them out of the capital.^[9][4]

Timeline

• 1827 – First recorded.^[3][4][7]
• 1834 – Recorded in Landais's dictionary.^[2][9][8]
• 1878 – Admitted by the Académie.^[8]
• Mid-20th century – Used of moving services and industry out of the capital.^[9]

Meanings

Verb

1. To make more autonomous what depends on a central power; especially, to give local authorities and elected bodies the power of decision in their own administration.^[4][9][2]
2. To move all or part of the services of a company or body from the capital to the suburbs or the provinces; délocaliser.^[4][9]
3. (reflexive) Se décentraliser: to become decentralized.^[4][5]

Related words

• centraliser
• centre
• décentralisation
• décentralisateur

Usage notes

Its opposite is centraliser.^[2][9]

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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 587a
7. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
9. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse