Etymologically
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enveloppe

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɑ̃.vlɔp/[1]

Forms

enveloppe f (plural enveloppes)[1]

Etymology

It is a back-formation from envelopper.[2][3][4] The verb, Old French envoloper (980) and anveloper (about 1175), is formed with en- on Old French voloper (“to wrap”), of obscure origin;[2][5] the TLFi, Bloch and Wartburg and Rey connect it with Medieval Latin faluppa (“chip, wisp of straw”), with ⟨vo⟩ due to the influence of Latin volvō (“to roll”).[2][4][5] développer belongs to the same family, as do Old Occitan volopar and Italian viluppo (“tuft, tangle”).[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

In 1292, in the accounts of Mahaut, Countess of Artois, it means a wrapping or cover: leather covers pour l'enveloppe.[2]

Semantic evolution

The envelope of a letter is recorded in a tariff of 1676 according to the TLFi, but a letter of Peiresc already speaks of it in 1632;[6] sous enveloppe appears in 1793.[2][6] Figuratively it meant from 1663 (Molière) what hides or covers, hence the outward appearance of a person and, in literary use, the body as opposed to the soul.[2][7][8] It became a term of botany (1703), anatomy and geometry (Monge, 1807), and named the outer casing of a tyre (1892).[2][6] In the 20th century an enveloppe is also a sum of money handed over discreetly, and an enveloppe budgétaire the overall sum allotted to a purpose.[7][8]

English took envelope in 1705.[9]

Timeline

  • 980 – The verb envoloper appears in the Passion of Clermont.[2]
  • 1292 – Enveloppe “wrapping” is first recorded.[2]
  • 1632 – Used for the cover of a letter.[6]
  • 1663 – Molière uses it figuratively for what hides something.[2]
  • 1705 – English borrows the word.[9]
  • 1807 – Monge uses it in geometry.[2][6]
  • 1892 – Used for the casing of a tyre.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An envelope, a folded paper pocket for a letter: mettre une lettre sous enveloppe.[10][8]
  2. A wrapping or cover: l'enveloppe d'un colis.[10][8]
  3. The outer casing of a tyre.[10][7]
  4. A sum of money given discreetly, for a service or as a bribe.[8][7]
  5. Enveloppe budgétaire: the overall sum of credits allotted to a purpose.[7][8]
  6. (literary) Outward appearance; the body as opposed to the soul: enveloppe corporelle.[8]
  7. (anatomy) A membrane or set of membranes surrounding an organ.[8][7]
  8. (mathematics) A curve or surface touching each of a family of curves or surfaces.[2][6]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d e f g 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 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 Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  10. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert