dynamique

Forms

dynamique (plural dynamiques)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek δυναμικός (dunamikós, “powerful, effective”), a late derivative of δύναμις (dúnamis, “force, power”).^{[2][3][4][1][5]} The Greek noun had many special senses in medicine and mathematics and for the meaning of a word, the effect of a remedy or the value of a coin.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in mechanics, in Leibniz's Traité de la science dynamique (1692), for the science of the forces that move bodies, as opposed to statique.^[2][3][4]

Semantic evolution

The noun la dynamique named a branch of mechanics from 1752.^[2][3][4] In the mid-19th century the adjective described the sociologie that studies life in motion and progress (Comte, 1852), and the noun passed into sociology and, about 1940, into psychology after Kurt Lewin's theories.^[2][3]

Of people it was used figuratively in the 19th century, but the sense “full of life and energy” is recorded only from 1934.^[3][2][6] In the 20th century the noun came to mean the set of interacting forces in a phenomenon, and after about 1965, especially in politics, forces directed towards progress.^[3][7] English took dynamic from the French word by 1812.^[8]

Timeline

• 1692 – Leibniz uses science dynamique in mechanics.^[2][3]
• 1752 – The noun is recorded in the Dictionnaire de Trévoux.^[2]
• 1826 – The adverb dynamiquement appears.^[3]
• 1833 – Balzac writes of la dynamique intérieure de l'homme.^[2]
• 1852 – Comte speaks of a dynamic sociology.^[2][3]
• 1864 – The Goncourts call a painter dynamic, for power and movement.^[2]
• 1934 – First record of the sense “energetic, lively”.^[2][6]
• c. 1965 – The noun is used for forces directed towards progress.^[3][7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Relating to forces and motion, as opposed to statique.^[7][9][5]
2. Considering things in their movement and development: une analyse dynamique du marché.^[7][9]
3. Suggesting movement: une affiche dynamique.^[7]
4. Full of vitality, drive and energy; dynamic, energetic: une directrice très dynamique.^[7][1][9]

Noun

1. (physics) Dynamics, the branch of mechanics that studies motion in relation to the forces that cause it.^[7][1][5]
2. The set of interacting and opposing forces in a phenomenon or structure, and figuratively forces moving towards progress: créer une dynamique.^[7][3]
3. (sociology) The study of societies in their evolution, and dynamique de groupe, the rules governing the behaviour of groups.^[7]

Word family

• dynamiquement

Related words

• dynamisme
• thermodynamique
• électrodynamique
• English dynamic

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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 j k l Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse