exploration

Forms

exploration f (plural explorations)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin explōrātiō (“observation, examination”),^[2][3] formed on the supine of explōrō (“to explore”).^[4][5][6] It goes with the verb explorer.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the first third of the 16th century in Jean Fossetier's Chroniques Margaritiques (au retour de l'exploration, “on returning from the exploration”), for the exploring of a country.^[2][3] The Petit Robert dates it 1455, and the Grand Robert and the GLLF to the 15th century.^[7][5][4]

Semantic evolution

The word was rare in this sense until the end of the 18th century; it came back in 1797, in the account of La Pérouse's voyage.^[2][3][7] Littré's only record of it before the 19th century comes from Cotgrave's dictionary.^[6] Its uses follow those of the verb: in medicine it meant the examination of a patient or an organ (1764), and after 1830, in Fourier, any careful and methodical examination.^[2][3]

In the army it formerly named a mission given to fast-moving units to make contact with the enemy as far ahead as possible.^[4] The learned adjective exploratoire was formed on its stem about 1966.^[3]

Timeline

• Early 16th century – Jean Fossetier uses it in his Chroniques Margaritiques.^[2][3]
• 1764 – Medical sense, in Lavoisien's dictionary of medicine.^[2][3]
• 1797 – Revived for the exploring of a country, in La Pérouse's voyage.^[2][3]
• 1830 – Fourier uses it for a methodical examination of something.^[2][3]
• c. 1966 – The derivative exploratoire appears.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. The act of exploring a country or region: l'exploration des pôles, partir en exploration.^[7][2]
2. By extension, the examination of a place, such as a piece of land or a cave.^[7][4]
3. (figurative) The systematic study of a subject or problem.^[7][4]
4. (medicine) The examination of an organ or a part of the body.^[7][2][6]
5. (military, dated) A reconnaissance mission given to fast units to find the enemy.^[4]

Word family

• exploratoire

Related words

• explorer
• Latin explōrātiō

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert