emblématique

Forms

emblématique (plural emblématiques)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin emblēmaticus (“inlaid, veneered”),^[2][3][4][1] from emblēma (“inlaid ornament”),^[4][5] which is from Ancient Greek ἔμβλημα (émblēma).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1564, in the Cinquième livre attributed to Rabelais, in figure emblematique, where it means made of inlaid pieces.^[2] The GLLF dates it to before 1553, Rabelais.^[5]

Semantic evolution

The adjective followed the development of emblème, so that it came to mean presenting an emblem or relating to one.^[3][2] Rey notes that, as a fashionable learned word, it is now used of whatever has the value of a symbol,^[3] and the Petit Robert gives the sense of representing something in a striking way, as in une figure emblématique.^[6][7]

Timeline

• 1564 – Figure emblematique appears in the Cinquième livre.^[2][3]
• 1699 – The adverb emblématiquement is recorded.^[3]
• 1858 – Gautier calls sixteen the emblematic number of pleasure.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Presenting an emblem or relating to one, allegorical, symbolic: le lion, animal emblématique du courage.^[6][7][2][8]
2. Representing something or someone in a striking way, iconic: un club emblématique du football.^[6][7][1]

Noun

1. (feminine) The use or choice of emblems.^[8]

Related words

• emblème
• Latin emblēma

References

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