discussion

Forms

discussion f (plural discussions)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin discussiō (“a shaking, careful examination”), which in Imperial and Late Latin took the sense of careful examination.^[2][3][4][5] The Latin noun comes from the supine of discutiō (“to shake apart, examine”), from which French also has discuter.^[4][6][3]

The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert date the first record to 1120 and the Grand Larousse to about 1170 (Livre des Rois); the TLFi and Rey give about 1200.^{[7][8][4][2][3]}

Compare Old Occitan discussion, Spanish discusión and Italian discussione.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

About 1200 the Moralités sur Job use it for a close and searching examination: par destroite discussion de rencerchement “by strict examination and inquiry”.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

In 1549 Robert Estienne records a legal sense, the search for and seizure of a debtor's goods (faire discussion sur les biens du debteur).^[2][3] Like discuter, the noun gained its other senses in the 18th century: “dispute, contestation” (1752) and “exchange of arguments and views” (1792, Florian, of a scientific discussion).^[2][3] The everyday sense “conversation” is noted by Littré in 1864 and called colloquial by Wiktionary.^[4][1]

Timeline

• c. 1200 – First record, in the Moralités sur Job.^[2][3]
• 14th century – H. de Mondeville writes of physicians who font discucion of a disease.^[6]
• 1549 – Robert Estienne records the legal sense.^[2][3]
• 1752 – The sense “contestation” appears in the Trévoux dictionary.^[2][3]
• 1792 – Florian uses it for an exchange of arguments.^[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. The careful, critical examination of a question, alone or with others: la discussion d'un amendement “the debate on an amendment”.^[8][9]
2. The act of questioning or arguing against a decision: il obéit sans discussion “he obeyed without argument”.^[8][10]
3. An exchange of arguments or opposing views; a debate.^[8][1]
4. A heated argument, a row.^[1][6]
5. (colloquial) A conversation on any subject.^[1][9]
6. (law) The search for and sale of a debtor's goods to obtain payment.^[6][2]
7. (mathematics) The study of an equation or formula for all the cases it covers.^[6]

Related words

• indiscutable
• discutable
• discuter
• Latin discussiō

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 c d 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, 94a
6. ^ a b c d e f g Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
10. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)