emblème

Forms

emblème m (plural emblèmes)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin emblēma (“inlaid ornament on vessels”), which is from Ancient Greek ἔμβλημα (émblēma, “something set in or applied”), from ἐμβάλλω (embállō, “to throw in, put in”), formed from ἐν (en, “in”) and βάλλω (bállō, “to throw”).^[2][3][4][5] Bloch and Wartburg note that the Latin word also meant a figurative “ornament of style”, but that the sense “symbolic figure” belongs to French.^[6] The family of the Greek verb also gave French bolide, diable, parabole and symbole.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1560, in Poldo d'Albenas's work on the antiquities of Nîmes, for a symbolic figure usually accompanied by a motto.^[2][3] Montaigne still used it for an inlaid piece, as in Latin.^[4]

Semantic evolution

From a picture with a motto, the word passed to a concrete being or object that stands for an abstract thing (1760, Voltaire), then to an attribute or figure meant to represent a person, an authority or a group (Stendhal, 1801–1818).^[2][3] The old literal sense of marquetry or mosaic had gone out of use by Littré's time.^[4]

English emblem first meant a raised ornament (1580s); its sense of an allegorical picture (1730) came through French emblème.^[7]

Timeline

• 1560 – First recorded, of a symbolic figure with a motto.^[2][8]
• 1564 – The adjective emblématique is borrowed, in Rabelais.^[6][3]
• 1704 – The dictionary of Trévoux records it for a figure standing for an idea.^[9]
• 1760 – Voltaire uses it of a concrete being or object symbolizing an abstract thing.^[2][3]
• 1801–1818 – Stendhal uses it for an attribute.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A symbolic figure, often with a motto.^[10][2]
2. A figure or attribute that represents an authority, a trade or a group: la balance est l'emblème de la justice.^[10][9]
3. A being or object that tradition takes as standing for an abstract idea; a symbol.^[10][4]
4. (obsolete) Inlaid work, marquetry.^[4]

Related words

• emblématique
• symbole
• Latin emblēma
• English emblem

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 217a
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
9. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
10. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert