division

Forms

division f (plural divisions)^[1] Old French and Anglo-Norman devision, division, devisiun.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin dīvīsiō (“sharing out, distribution, division”).^[3][4][5] The Latin noun is formed from divisum, the supine of dīvidō (“to divide”),^[4][6][7] the source of diviser.^[4]

Cognate with Occitan devision, Spanish división and Italian divisione.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Philippe de Thaon's Comput (1119) uses it for the act of dividing.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

The Oxford Psalter (first half of the 12th century) has devision for a part of a whole.^[3] Medieval texts also used it for skill, a manner, and someone's will or choice.^[7][2] In the 13th century it was the arithmetical operation and the sharing of goods (Beaumanoir, 1283).^[3][7] Division meaning dissension is recorded in 1436.^[3]

Furetière (1690) records it for a unit of an army.^[3][6] Division du travail came in with the translation of Adam Smith (1778) and spread in the early 20th century.^[3][8] An administrative sense is recorded by Littré in 1864.^[9][6]

English division (late 14th century) is from Old French division and directly from Latin.^[10]

Timeline

• 1119 – Philippe de Thaon's Comput uses it for the act of dividing.^[3]
• early 12th century – Devision “part of a whole” in the Oxford Psalter.^[3]
• 3rd quarter of the 13th century – The arithmetical operation, as devision.^[3]
• 1283 – Beaumanoir speaks of divisions of property.^[3]
• 1436 – First recorded sense “dissension”.^[3]
• 1690 – Furetière records the military unit.^[3]
• 1778 – Division du travail in a translation of Adam Smith.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. The act of dividing, or the state of being divided: la division d'une propriété entre héritiers.^[8][3]
2. (arithmetic) division, the operation of dividing one number by another.^[8][1]
3. Division du travail: the division of labour.^[8][3]
4. (biology) The splitting of a cell: division cellulaire.^[8]
5. A mark that divides, such as a graduation on a scale or a hyphen at the end of a line.^[8]
6. A part or section of a whole: the divisions of a book, of an administration.^[8][1]
7. (military) A division, a large unit of an army.^[3][1]
8. discord, dissension: semer la division.^[3][6]

Related words

• diviser
• divisible
• Latin dīvidō
• English division

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b 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 r s 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 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, 110a
6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
10. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com