exactitude

Forms

exactitude f (plural exactitudes)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French exact + -itude, on the model of words such as habitude and solitude, in which the ending comes from Latin.^[2][3][4] It quickly won out over exactesse (1632) and exacteté (1643), which some writers had put forward.^[2][3][5] Its base is from Latin exactus, the past participle of exigō in the sense “to complete”.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Vaugelas, who first records it, called it a word he had seen born “like a monster” (comme un monstre), adding that people had grown used to it;^[2][6] its first sense was scrupulous care in doing what is agreed, promised or prescribed.^[7]

Semantic evolution

The noun followed the senses of the adjective exact.^[3] In the classical period it named a person's conscientious keeping of commitments (1664, Corneille) and the flawless execution of a work, especially correctness of style (1663, Molière).^[7] The narrower sense of punctuality, arriving at the agreed time, appears in 1680 in Mme de Sévigné.^[7][3]

In the 18th century it took on the sense of agreement with reality or truth (about 1740, Voltaire) and, in measurement, the equality of the value found with the quantity measured (1756).^[3][7] The care sense is now old or literary, while punctuality and accuracy are the usual ones.^[8] English borrowed exactitude in 1734.^[9]

Timeline

• 1632 – The rival form exactesse is recorded.^[5][3]
• 1643 – The rival form exacteté is recorded.^[5][3]
• 1644 – First dated use, in Vaugelas, according to the Grand Robert.^[5]
• 1647 – Vaugelas comments on the new word.^[2][3]
• 1663 – Molière uses it of the perfect execution of a work.^[7]
• 1680 – Mme de Sévigné uses it for punctuality.^[7][3]
• 1689 – The opposite inexactitude appears.^[6]
• 1734 – English borrows the word.^[9]
• c. 1740 – Voltaire uses it for conformity with the truth.^[7][3]
• 1756 – It is used of the accuracy of a measurement.^[7][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (dated or literary) Scrupulous care in carrying out a task or duty according to the rules.^[8][4]
2. Punctuality, the habit of arriving at the agreed time: L'exactitude est la politesse des rois, a saying attributed to Louis XVIII.^[8][7]
3. Agreement with reality or the truth: l'exactitude de son témoignage.^[8][4][2]
4. Accuracy, precision of a measurement, calculation or instrument: l'exactitude d'une balance.^[8][7]

Word family

• inexactitude

Related words

• exact
• Latin exactus

References

1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
5. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
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 Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com