Etymologically
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discours

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /dis.kuʁ/[1]

Forms

discours m (countable and uncountable, invariable)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin discursus (“conversation, talk”), adapted after cours.[2][3][4][5][6] In classical Latin the noun meant “a running to and fro”, a sense also borrowed in 16th-century French; it comes from discurrō (“to run about”), from dis- (“apart”) and currō (“to run”).[2][1][7] The verb discourir is from the same Latin verb.[3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

In Le Guidon en françoys (1503) it means an account or exposition, written or spoken.[2]

Semantic evolution

In the 16th century it also meant the course or whole sequence of a story or plan, and the faculty of reasoning: Des Périers calls a sensible man homme de bon discours.[7][4] In classical French it was conversation and talk in general (mauvais discours, gossip), and Descartes's Discours de la méthode (1637) uses it for a written treatise.[4][2] Régnier has it before 1613 for the sequence of words that makes up language, the origin of its use in linguistics.[2][4]

The usual modern sense is a formal speech given to an audience: discours de bienvenue.[8][5] With a pejorative tone, des discours are empty words opposed to action: assez de discours, des actes ![9][8]

Timeline

  • 1503 – “Account, exposition”, in Le Guidon en françoys.[2]
  • c. 1534 – Des Périers, of the power of reasoning.[4]
  • 16th century – Montaigne, of a prepared speech.[7]
  • Before 1613 – “The sequence of words that make up language”, in Régnier.[2]
  • 1637 – Descartes's Discours de la méthode.[4]
  • 1694 – The Académie records the word.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A speech or address given before an audience: prononcer un discours.[8][5]
  2. (dated) What one says, talk: tenir des discours étranges.[8][9]
  3. (pejorative) Empty words, as opposed to deeds: assez de discours ![9][5]
  4. (dated) A written treatise on a subject.[2]
  5. (linguistics, grammar) Discourse, language in use, parties du discours, parts of speech, discours direct, indirect.[4][8]

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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 92b
  7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)