Etymologically
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diriger

Etymology and origin of the French word diriger

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1381, Le Grand Schisme
Borrowed from
Latin dirigo
Ultimate origin
Latin (regō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin rego
Latin surgo
French surgir
Latin regula
French règle
French régler
Latin regularis
English regular
Latin dirigo
French diriger
Latin directio
English direction
French direction
Latin regio
French région
Latin regionalis
English regional

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /di.ʁi.ʒe/[1]

Forms

diriger[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin dīrigō (“to put in line; to direct; to arrange, regulate”), made a first-conjugation verb, from dis- and regō (“to guide, rule”) (see régir).[2][3][4][1][5] The inherited outcome of the same Latin verb is droit.[1][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A text on the Great Schism (1381) uses it figuratively for making something go in a certain direction.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Jean de Vignay's translation, printed in 1495, uses it for conducting something according to rules, and the GLLF dates the sense “to run, be in charge of” from the same text.[2][7] Pascal's Provinciales (1656) mocked the casuists' diriger l'intention, and Furetière (1690) has diriger la conscience and les études.[2]

The participle dirigeant (1835) became a noun for a leader (Vallès, 1881); dirigeable (1789) named the airship, and dirigisme (about 1930) state economic control.[3][8]

Timeline

  • 1381 – To direct (figuratively).[2]
  • 1495 – To conduct according to rules, Vignay.[2]
  • 1656 – Diriger l'intention, Pascal.[2]
  • 1690 – Diriger la conscience, Furetière.[2]
  • 1789 – Dirigeable.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To run, manage, head: diriger une entreprise, diriger un pays.[6][1]
  2. To supervise, direct: diriger des travaux, diriger une thèse; to conduct (an orchestra); to direct (a film).[1][7]
  3. To steer (a vehicle).[1]
  4. To aim, point, turn: diriger son regard vers, diriger une arme sur.[1][2]
  5. Se diriger vers: to head for, make for.[1][6]

Word family

  • dirigeant
  • dirigeable
  • dirigisme
  • dirigiste
  • codiriger

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 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. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ 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, 91a
  6. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  8. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Diriger.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/diriger. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·