exclusivité

Forms

exclusivité f (plural exclusivités)^[1] First recorded as exclusiveté (Boiste, 1812), a form that seems to go back to Voltaire, before exclusivité (1820).^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is formed from French exclusif + -ité, first with the suffix ⟨-eté⟩ and then with ⟨-ité⟩.^[2][3][4] The adjective was borrowed in the 15th century from Medieval Latin exclusivus, derived from exclūdō (“to shut out”).^[5][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Boiste's dictionary of 1812 has exclusiveté, defined as the state of what is exclusive.^[2] The form exclusivité is found in Laveaux in 1820.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The word first named the quality of what is exclusive, undivided, a use Balzac still felt was new enough to need a word.^[3][6] It spread in legal use and, from 1877, named the exclusive right to publish an article or sell a book, then from 1911 the right to show a film, especially in en exclusivité.^[4][2][7] By metonymy une exclusivité became a product, film or news item that one firm alone has.^[4][8] In the press, the sense “important news given exclusively” competes with the English scoop.^[4]

Timeline

• 1812 – Boiste records exclusiveté.^[2][3]
• 1820 – Exclusivité appears in Laveaux.^[2]
• 1877 – The Gazette des Tribunaux uses it for the exclusive right to publish or sell.^[2]
• 1911 – It is used of the exclusive right to show a film.^[4][7]

Meanings

Noun

1. (dated) The quality of being exclusive, unshared.^[6][8]
2. An exclusive right or ownership, as to sell or publish something: signer une clause d'exclusivité.^[6][9][2]
3. En exclusivité: exclusively, of a product sold or a film shown by one firm or cinema alone.^[6][9][2]
4. A product, film or piece of news that only one firm or paper has, an exclusive.^[9][8][1]

Related words

• exclusif
• exclure
• exclusion
• Medieval Latin exclusivus

References

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