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expression

Etymology and origin of the French word expression

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1314, Henri de Mondeville, Chirurgie
Borrowed from
Latin expressio
Ultimate origin
Latin (premo)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin expressio
English expression
French expression

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɛk.spʁɛ.sjɔ̃/[1]
  • IPA: /ɛk.spʁe.sjɔ̃/[1]
  • IPA: /ɛs.pʁe.sjɔ̃/[1]

Forms

expression f (plural expressions)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin expressiō (“a pressing out, (Late Latin) expression of thought, vivid description”), derived from expressum, the supine of exprimō (“to press out; to express”) (see exprimer).[2][3][4][5][6] The Latin verb is formed from ex- and premō (“to press”).[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Henri de Mondeville's Chirurgie (1314) uses it in medicine for the act of pressing something out;[2][3][6] Paré speaks of expression des mammelles to draw out milk.[2][3][6]

Semantic evolution

The concrete sense survives only as a technical term.[3][2] Froissart (about 1360) has the act of expressing something, and in 1547 it is the manner of expressing oneself; from 1656 (Pascal) it names a turn of phrase in the written or spoken language.[3][5][2]

In the classical period it took further uses: in mathematics, a formula expressing a value (1674); the expression of feelings through art (1669, Molière); and that by which someone or something shows itself (1694, Bossuet).[3][5] Réduire à sa plus simple expression is in de Jouy (1812) and Balzac (1834).[3][8] In linguistics it is one of the essential functions of signs, opposed to communication, and in semantics it is opposed to content.[3] expressif (1483; in its modern sense 1680) and liberté d'expression belong to the same family.[3][7]

Timeline

  • 1314 – “Pressing out”, in Henri de Mondeville.[2][3]
  • c. 1360 – The act of expressing, in Froissart.[5][4]
  • 1547 – A manner of expressing oneself.[2][3]
  • 1656 – A turn of phrase, in Pascal.[3][5]
  • 1669 – Expression in art, in Molière.[3]
  • 1674 – A mathematical expression, in Malebranche.[3][5]
  • 1812 – Réduire à sa plus simple expression.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Expression, the act or manner of expressing a thought or feeling: liberté d'expression.[7][1]
  2. A phrase, turn of phrase, idiom: expression figurée, une expression toute faite.[3][7]
  3. The look or tone that reveals a feeling.[5][7]
  4. Expressiveness in art.[3][5]
  5. (mathematics) A formula representing a value: expression algébrique, réduire à sa plus simple expression, to reduce to its simplest form.[3][8]
  6. A manifestation, embodiment of something.[2][3]
  7. (technical) The pressing out of a liquid.[2][5]

Word family

  • expressif
  • inexpressif
  • expressivité

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 r s Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b 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 i Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  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 Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Expression.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/expression. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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