enregistrer

Forms

enregistrer^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French en- + registre + -er.^{[2][3][4][1][5]} The base noun, recorded from the 13th century, is from Late Latin regesta (“register, catalogue”), the neuter plural of regestus, past participle of regerō (“to carry back, record”).^[4]

Cognate with Occitan enregistrar.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Vie de saint Édouard le Confesseur (about 1240) uses it for “to write down in a register”.^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

From the start the verb meant “to enter in a register”, and in law “to transcribe an act in a public register”.^[8] By extension it meant “to set down in writing” (about 1360, Froissart) and, abstractly, “to take note of something so as to remember it”.^[8][7] Under the old monarchy a sovereign court enregistrait a royal ordinance, and a parliament could refuse to do so.^[6]

From 1870 it was applied to collecting data on a medium with an instrument, and in the 20th century to recording sound and images for playback, for radio, records and television.^[8][7] Checking in luggage, common from the middle of the 20th century, is a specialization of the old sense of registering for a fee (before 1615).^[8][7] In Quebec the past participle enregistré is used of registered mail.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 1240 – First recorded, “to write down in a register”.^[2]
• 1310 – The noun enregistrement appears.^[4][8]
• c. 1360 – Froissart uses it for “to set down in writing”.^[7][8]
• Before 1615 – Pasquier uses it for registering a deed.^[7]
• 1580 – enregistrable is first recorded, in Montaigne.^[2]
• 1829 – enregistreur is recorded.^[4]
• 1870 – It is used of recording data with an instrument.^[8][7]
• Early 20th century – It means recording sound for playback.^[7][8]
• 1948 – Larousse records its use for luggage.^[7]

Meanings

Verb

1. To enter in a register, to record an order, a birth or a letter.^[9][2][7]
2. (law) To register a deed in a public register.^[9][6]
3. To check in luggage at an airport or station.^[9][8]
4. To set down in writing; to take note of and keep in mind.^[9][8]
5. To record data, sound or images on a medium for later playback.^[9][8][1]
6. (computing) To save a file.^[1]
7. (reflexive) S'enregistrer: to check in on arrival.^[1]

Word family

• enregistrement
• enregistreur
• enregistrable

Related words

• registre
• Late Latin regesta

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 10, 207a
6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ 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
9. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert