Etymologically
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direction

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /di.ʁɛk.sjɔ̃/[1]

Forms

direction f (plural directions)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin dīrēctiō (“straight line, (late Latin) a directing”), from the supine “directum” of dīrigō (“to direct”) (see diriger), formed on regō (“to rule, guide”).[2][3][4][1][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Guillaume de Digulleville's Fleur de lis (1338) uses it for the action of directing or leading; the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert date it from 1327, the GLLF from Oresme (1372).[2][3][6][4]

Semantic evolution

Cotgrave (1611) gives “directive, instruction”, and Pascal mocked the casuists' direction d'intention (1656); before 1704 Bossuet uses it for the office of a spiritual director.[2][7] It became the post of director (1709, Lesage), the director's offices (1752), the services in his charge (1771) and the body of directors (1864).[2]

In the sciences it is a line of motion in astronomy and physics (1680), then, from 1757, any orientation, figuratively from 1770.[2] The motorist's direction, the steering gear, dates from 1907.[2]

Timeline

  • 1338 – “Directing”, Digulleville.[2]
  • 1611 – “Instruction”, Cotgrave.[2]
  • 1656 – Direction d'intention, Pascal.[2]
  • 1680 – A line of motion, Richelet.[2]
  • 1709 – The post of director, Lesage.[2]
  • 1757 – “Orientation”, Mirabeau.[2]
  • 1907 – Steering gear.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. management, leadership: la direction d'une entreprise, sous la direction de.[6][1]
  2. The post of director; the management, the directors as a body: la direction a décidé….[6][1]
  3. A department of an administration: direction des impôts.[2][1]
  4. A direction, way: dans la direction de Paris, changer de direction.[1][4]
  5. (figurative) A direction, tendency.[2][1]
  6. The steering of a vehicle: direction assistée.[2][1]
  7. Spiritual guidance: direction de conscience.[2][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q 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. 3, 87a
  6. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF