Etymologically
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décision

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /de.si.zjɔ̃/[1]

Forms

décision f (plural décisions)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin dēcīsiō (“a deciding, settlement; arrangement, transaction”),[2][3][4][5][1] formed on dēcīsum, the supine of dēcīdō (“to cut off; to settle”) (see décider),[3][4][6] a compound of caedō (“to cut”).[6]

Compare Italian decisione, Occitan decision, Catalan decisió, Spanish decisión and Portuguese decisão.[1][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

A legal document of 1314 uses it for the act of deciding a question and its result.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

First a legal term, the word spread in the 17th century, taking the psychological value “quality of a person who does not hesitate” (Segrais, 1676: air de décision et d'autorité); Furetière (1690) does not yet have it.[2][3] The everyday sense “a choice one makes, an act of will” is in Madame de Staël (1791).[2] In logic and epistemology it took a technical sense after English decision (compare décidable).[3] Its derivatives include décisionnaire (18th century) and décisionnel (1958).[3]

Timeline

  • 1314 – A legal decision.[2]
  • 1413 – The related décisif.[3]
  • 1676 – “Decisiveness”, Segrais.[2]
  • 1791 – “A choice made”, Madame de Staël.[2]
  • 1958 – Décisionnel.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A decision, the act of deciding a question; its result: prendre une décision.[8][6]
  2. A ruling by a competent authority: décision judiciaire, ministérielle.[8][6]
  3. A choice, resolution one makes: revenir sur sa décision.[2][8]
  4. Decisiveness, firmness: avoir l'esprit de décision.[2][3]

Word family

  • décisionnaire
  • décisionnel

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 25b
  6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert