fleuriste

Forms

fleuriste m or f by sense (plural fleuristes)^[1] An earlier variant was floriste (1634).^[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French fleur + -iste.^[4][1][5] The noun fleur is from Latin flōs (“flower”).^[6][7] Littré compares Italian fiorista.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1658, in P. Morin's book on growing flowers, for a person who loves flowers and grows them.^[4][9]

Semantic evolution

In classical French a fleuriste was a lover of flowers, as in the Académie's 1694 entry for someone who is “curious about flowers”.^[4][10][3] From 1680 (Richelet) it was also the person who grows or sells flowers, the usual modern sense, which has come to cover the shop as well.^[11][3] A fleuriste artificiel made or sold artificial flowers (1832), and the feminine fleuriste was a woman who made them.^[11][8] The adjective, in phrases such as jardinier fleuriste, is recorded from 1865.^[11][8]

Timeline

• 1634 – The variant floriste is recorded.^[2][3]
• 1658 – P. Morin uses fleuriste for a lover of flowers.^[4][9]
• 1680 – Richelet records it for a grower or seller of flowers.^[11][6]
• 1694 – The Académie defines it as a lover and grower of flowers.^[10]
• 1832 – It is used for a maker of artificial flowers.^[11]
• 1865 – The adjective is recorded.^[11]

Meanings

Noun

1. A florist: a person who sells cut or potted flowers and makes up bouquets, also the shop.^[2][4][1]
2. A person who grows flowers for sale;^[2][4] (rare) a hired gardener who grows flowers.^[2][4]
3. A maker or seller of artificial flowers.^[2][8]
4. (obsolete) A lover of flowers.^[2][4]

Adjective

1. Devoted to flowers: jardinier fleuriste, ouvrière fleuriste.^[8][2][5]

Related words

• fleur
• fleurette
• fleurir
• Latin flōs

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h 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
5. ^ a b Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
8. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
10. ^ a b Académie française (1694), Le Dictionnaire de l'Académie françoise, 1st ed., Paris: Coignard
11. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse