exploitation

Forms

exploitation f (plural exploitations)^[1] The first record has the spelling expletation (1340).^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is formed from French exploiter + -ation.^[2][5][1] The verb is a remaking, after Latin explicō, of Old French esploitier (“to accomplish, enjoy”), from Vulgar Latin *explicitō, from explicitus (“easily done”).^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1340, spelled expletation, as a legal term for a judicial seizure, a sense that later died out.^[2][3][6]

Semantic evolution

The sense “the working of something for a yield”, the source of all later uses, is first found in Colbert's letters (1662).^[2][3][5] From 1776, in the Encyclopédie, it also named the property being worked, and the place where this is done, as in exploitation agricole.^[2][3][7]

The growth of industry and of socialist theory brought exploitation de l'homme par l'homme (1829, in the Saint-Simonian doctrine), later taken up by Marxist writers, and the sense “drawing an unfair or excessive profit from something or someone” (1832, Jean-Baptiste Say).^[3][2] The word also meant the methodical use of something, such as an idea (1837, Balzac), and, pejoratively, taking advantage of someone (1870, the Goncourts).^[3] It entered the language of transport (1890, Zola) and of the cinema (1910).^[3]

Timeline

• 1340 – Expletation “judicial seizure” is recorded.^[2][3]
• 1662 – Colbert uses exploitation for the working of a resource.^[2][3]
• 1776 – The Encyclopédie uses it for the property worked, such as a farm.^[2][3]
• 1829 – Exploitation de l'homme par l'homme appears in the Saint-Simonian doctrine.^[2][3]
• 1832 – Jean-Baptiste Say uses it for an unfair or excessive profit.^[2][3]
• 1837 – Balzac uses it for the methodical use of something.^[3]
• 1890 – Zola uses it of a shipping line.^[3]
• 1910 – It enters the language of the cinema.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. The working or running of something to make it produce, such as land, a mine² or a patent: la mise en exploitation d'un gisement.^[7][2][4]
2. The operation of a service for profit, such as an air or rail line.^[7]
3. Système d'exploitation: (computing) an operating system.^[7][1]
4. The property or business being worked, such as a farm or a factory: exploitation agricole.^[7][2]
5. The methodical use of something: l'exploitation d'un renseignement.^[7][3]
6. The unfair use of someone for one's own profit, exploitation: exploitation de l'homme par l'homme.^[2][3][4]

Word family

• inexploitation
• surexploitation
• sous-exploitation

Related words

• exploiter
• exploit
• exploitant
• exploiteur

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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 l m n o p q Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b 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 Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert