générique

Forms

générique (plural génériques)^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned derivative, from Latin genus (“birth, kind”), with the French suffix -ique.^[2][3][4][1] It thus belongs with genre and général.^[3]

The noun meaning “film credits” is the adjective used as a noun.^[5][6] Rey notes that it alludes to the “genre” of the film being presented, but that the choice of the word is not clearly explained; a borrowing is possible, though not from English.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Dictionnaire historique and the Petit Robert date the word to 1548; the Trésor gives as its first record a text of 1596 by Jean de Basmaison on the customs of Auvergne, where it means “general”.^[3][6][2] Bloch and Wartburg date it to 1582.^[4]

Semantic evolution

From its first sense “general”, the adjective came to mean “belonging to a genus”, the sense it has in Descartes in 1647.^[2][3] It remained a learned word of philosophy, logic and linguistics, much rarer than its opposite spécifique;^[2][3] expression générique is recorded in 1806.^[2][3] It qualifies a name or term that covers a whole class (terme générique).^[7][8]

The noun, dated 1934 by Rey and the Petit Robert and 1944 (Queneau) by the Trésor, names the part of a film or television programme that lists its title, authors and performers.^[3][6][2][9] In pharmacy médicament générique, or simply un générique, is a drug whose patent has expired and that is sold more cheaply.^[6][1]

Timeline

• 1548 – First record of the adjective, according to Rey and the Petit Robert.^[3][6]
• 1596 – Jean de Basmaison uses generique for “general”.^[2][9]
• 1647 – Descartes uses it in the sense “relating to a genus”.^[2][3]
• 1806 – Expression générique appears in a ruling of the Cour de cassation.^[2]
• 1843 – The adverb génériquement is first recorded.^[3]
• 1934 – The noun “credits of a film” appears.^[3][6]
• 1944 – Queneau uses the noun.^[2][9]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (formal) Belonging to a genus or to a whole class, as opposed to spécifique: terme générique, a word that covers a whole category.^[6][2][8]
2. (pharmacy) Of a drug: no longer protected by a patent, and so cheaper: médicament générique.^[6]
3. Of a product: sold without a brand name.^[6]

Noun

1. The credits of a film or programme, giving its title and the names of the authors, actors and crew, at the start or the end.^[6][1]
2. (figurative) A list of the people responsible for something.^[6]
3. A generic drug.^[6][1]

Word family

• génériquement

Related words

• genre
• général
• Latin genus

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF