disposition

Forms

disposition f (plural dispositions)^[1] Anglo-Norman disposicion and desposicioun.^[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin dispositiō (“arrangement, disposal”), first recorded about 1200.^{[3][4][5][1][6]} In Latin it was also a term of rhetoric, and in Late Latin it came to mean a clause of a legal act.^[3][4][7] The Latin noun is formed on dispositum, the supine of dispōnō (“to arrange”) (French disposer),^[5][7][4] and Littré analyses it as dis- and positiō (“a placing”), from pōnō (“to put”).^[8]

The same Latin word gave Old Occitan dispositio, Spanish disposición and Italian disposizione.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

About 1200 the Moralités sur Job speak of the divine disposition, the plan of God.^[3][4][8]

Semantic evolution

From the religious context it passed to arrangement in general in the early 13th century.^[3][4] It also meant the state one is in: first the state of the body (early 14th century), a sense now gone, then a frame of mind (1393, the Ménagier de Paris), as in être dans les dispositions de “to be inclined to” (before 1679, Retz), which led to the sense “gift, aptitude” (1690, Furetière).^[3][4]

An older line of sense is the power to dispose of something (1393), in law also a clause of a deed (1417–1435), which lives on in à la disposition de (1850).^[3][4] Swiss French says à disposition for this.^[4] The measures taken towards an end appear before 1679 in Retz.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 1200 – Divine disposition in the Moralités sur Job.^[3]
• early 13th century – The general sense “arrangement”.^[3][4]
• early 14th century – It is used for a person's physical state.^[3]
• c. 1393 – The Ménagier de Paris uses it for a frame of mind and for the power to dispose of something.^[3][4]
• 1417–1435 – Clément de Fauquembergue uses it for a legal clause.^[3]
• before 1679 – Retz uses it for measures taken.^[3]
• 1690 – Furetière records the sense “aptitude”.^[3]
• 1850 – À la disposition de becomes current.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. arrangement, layout: la disposition des meubles.^[9][10][1]
2. (plural) Measures taken in advance: prendre ses dispositions.^[9][3][1]
3. A tendency to something: une disposition à la paresse.^[9][10]
4. A frame of mind, a mood: être en bonne disposition.^[9]
5. (plural) An aptitude or gift: avoir des dispositions pour la musique.^[9][3]
6. disposal, the power to use something or someone: à la disposition de, à disposition.^[9][4][1]
7. (law) A provision or clause of a text.^[3][1]

Word family

• indisposition

Related words

• disposer
• dispositif
• prédisposition
• Latin dispositiō

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
3. ^ 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
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 98b
7. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)