dynamisme

Forms

dynamisme m (uncountable)^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned formation, from Ancient Greek δύναμις (dúnamis, “force, power”) with the suffix -isme.^[2][3][4] The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert add that it was modelled on dynamique.^[5][6] Littré likewise gives the Greek noun as its source.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1834, in Jourdan's dictionary of the natural sciences, as a term of philosophy.^[2] It first named the doctrine of Leibniz, which explains matter by forces within it rather than by outside, mechanical action.^[3][2]

Semantic evolution

In philosophy dynamisme was set against the mécanisme of Descartes: Littré illustrates the contrast with Descartes's vortices, a mechanism, and the theory of gravitation, a dynamism.^[7] It was later applied to doctrines, such as Bergson's, that take movement or becoming as primary.^[2][6] In medicine it also named a now abandoned theory of forces acting independently of the organs.^[7]

By extension it meant the active force of a living being (1870, in Larousse's dictionary).^[2][4] The everyday sense “energy, drive” of a person or group, the usual one today, dates from 1932.^[3][6] The noun had early produced dynamiste (1834), a supporter of the doctrine.^[3]

Timeline

• 1834 – First recorded, as a term of philosophy, in Jourdan's dictionary.^[2][3]
• 1835 – The Académie française records it.^[4]
• 1870 – Larousse's dictionary uses it for the active force of a living being.^[2][4]
• 1932 – The current sense “energy, drive” is recorded.^[3][6]

Meanings

Noun

1. (philosophy) A doctrine that explains matter and its properties by forces within it, opposed to mécanisme.^[6][4][8]
2. (philosophy) A doctrine that takes movement or becoming as primary, opposed to statisme.^[2][6]
3. Energy, vitality and drive in a person or group: Cette équipe manque de dynamisme.^[6][4][8]

Word family

• dynamiste

Related words

• dynamique
• dynamiser
• Ancient Greek δύναμις (dúnamis)

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)