généraliser

Forms

généraliser^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French général + -iser.^[2][3][1] The adjective général is from Latin generālis (“belonging to a kind, general”), from genus (“kind, species”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi first records it in Agrippa d'Aubigné's Histoire universelle (1600–1612), in the sense “to make general, extend to the whole”;^[2][4] Littré quotes its preface: J'ai osé generaliser mon histoire “I have dared to make my history general”, that is, to widen it beyond the nearest events.^[5]

Semantic evolution

At first the verb was used of ideas and of history, in the abstract sense “to make general”.^[6][7] The absolute use “to reason from the particular to the general” is recorded from 1751, in Diderot,^[7][6] and the concrete sense “to extend (a measure, a practice) to everyone” from 1784.^[6][7] Littré already gives the reflexive se généraliser “to become common to many” and its medical use, of a disease spreading through the whole body;^[5] the phrase maladie généralisée is dated to the 20th century by the GLLF.^[7]

The derivatives followed in the late 18th and the 19th centuries: généralisation (1773 in Rey, 1778 in Bloch and Wartburg), généralisateur (1792) and généralisable (1845).^[6][4]

Timeline

• 1600–1612 – Agrippa d'Aubigné uses it in his Histoire universelle.^[2][4]
• 1751 – Diderot uses it absolutely, “to draw general conclusions”.^[7][6]
• 1773 – The noun généralisation is recorded.^[6]
• 1784 – The concrete sense “to extend to everyone” appears.^[6][7]
• 1792 – Généralisateur is recorded.^[6][4]
• 1845 – Généralisable is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To extend something (a measure, a method, a practice) to all or most people or cases: généraliser le tri des déchets.^[8][2][9]
2. (reflexive) Se généraliser: to become widespread or common: le télétravail s'est généralisé.^[8][1][9]
3. (medicine) Se généraliser: of a disease, to spread through the whole organism;^[8][9] cancer généralisé is a cancer that has spread through the body.^[8][9]
4. To give an idea, a principle or a result a wider scope; to generalize: généraliser une observation.^[9][8][5]
5. (absolute) To draw a general conclusion from a limited number of cases, often too hastily: tu as tort de généraliser.^[10][7][9]

Word family

• généralisable
• généralisation
• généralisateur

Related words

• général
• généralité
• généraliste
• Latin generālis

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c d e f Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
10. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)