esplanade

Forms

esplanade f (plural esplanades)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Italian spianata (“levelled open space”), recorded in Italian from the 14th century, the noun use of the past participle of spianare (“to level”).^[2][3][4][5] Its form was adapted after plan¹.^[5][6] The Italian verb comes from Latin explānō (“to spread out, flatten”), from plānus (“flat, level”).^[2][5][7]

Wiktionary adds an influence of Spanish explanada,^[1] and Etymonline takes the French word from Spanish, with Italian as an alternative.^[8] Littré derived it from an old verb esplaner (“to make level”).^[9]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1477–1483, in Martial d'Auvergne's Vigiles de Charles VII, for a large open space in a town.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Brought in with the Italian word's value as a term of fortification, by the end of the 16th century, in Agrippa d'Aubigné, it named the open, level ground in front of the glacis of a fortress;^[7][5][9] this sense has since gone out of use.^[5][2] From the early 17th century it was extended to ground laid out in front of a building or house, then, from 1755 (in the Encyclopédie), to a level terrace on a height.^[5][7]

English took esplanade in the 1590s.^[8]

Timeline

• 14th century – Italian spianata in Giovanni Villani.^[2]
• 1477–1483 – First French record, in Martial d'Auvergne.^[2][4]
• 16th century – Montaigne writes splanade.^[9]
• Late 16th century – Agrippa d'Aubigné uses it in fortification.^[7][9]
• 1590s – English borrows it.^[8]
• Early 17th century – Ground in front of a building.^[5][7]
• 1755 – A terrace on a height, in the Encyclopédie.^[7][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A level, open piece of ground, artificially levelled.^[10]
2. An open level space laid out in front of a building to clear its approaches, a parvis or square: l'esplanade devant la mairie.^[10][11][12]
3. A raised terrace laid out on a height, with a view over the surroundings.^[10][7]
4. (fortification, dated) The open level ground between the glacis of a citadel and the first houses of the town.^[2][12][9]

Related words

• plan¹
• plain
• aplanir
• Italian spianata
• English esplanade

Usage notes

Agrippa d'Aubigné has the Prince de Condé speak of making his enemies pont d'or et esplanade d'argent.^[9]

References

1. ^ a b c 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. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
7. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b c d e f Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
10. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
12. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)