dépréciation

Forms

dépréciation f (plural dépréciations)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French déprécier + -ation.^[2][3][1] Déprécier (1762) is from Late Latin dēpretiō (“to lower the value of”), formed on pretium (“price”), and is written with ⟨c⟩ after apprécier.^[2][3][4]

The dates differ: the TLFi and the Petit Robert give 1771, Bloch and Wartburg 1779, the GLLF 1784 (Linguet), while the Grand Robert has 1711.^{[2][5][4][6][7]}

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1771 in J. J. Schmidlin's Catholicon, for the loss of value of a thing.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The word names both the act of depreciating and the state of what has lost value.^[2][5] The Civil Code of 1804 uses it of goods in an inheritance that have lost value.^[2] In economics it is the loss of value of a currency, through inflation or an unfavourable balance of payments, and by extension a fall in the standard of living.^[2][6] Figuratively it is the loss of esteem suffered by a thing or, more rarely, a person.^[2][6]

Timeline

• 1771 – Recorded in Schmidlin's Catholicon.^[2]
• 1784 – Used by Linguet.^[6]
• 1804 – Used in the Civil Code of goods that lost value.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. The act of depreciating, or the state of what has lost value; a loss of value of goods, property or a currency.^[2][5][8]
2. (economics) A fall in people's standard of living.^[2]
3. (figurative) A loss of esteem or regard, of a thing or a person.^[2][6]

Related words

• déprécier
• dépréciateur
• dépréciatif
• apprécier
• dépriser
• prix
• Latin pretium

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)