géomètre

Forms

géomètre m or f by sense (plural géomètres)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin geōmetrēs,^[2][3][4][1] which is from Ancient Greek γεωμέτρης (geōmétrēs, “geometer, land surveyor”),^[2][5] formed from γῆ (gê, “earth”) and the stem of μετρέω (metréō, “to measure”).^[4][5] Old and Middle French usually said geometrien instead,^[3][6] beside géométrie, which is recorded from about 1165.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record, in a manuscript of a French translation of Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy (first third of the 14th century), means someone who studies geometry.^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

In 1637 the word was extended to the technician who measures land and draws up plans, the arpenteur (Crespin).^[2][7][5] The sense “mathematician” (1655, Pascal) has gone out of use,^[7][5] though Littré still quotes Newton fut un grand géomètre.^[6] L'éternel géomètre was a name for God.^[2][6] From 1803 it also named a moth whose caterpillar seems to measure the ground as it moves, the family later called the géométridés.^[7][5]

Timeline

• 1300–1333 – A translation of the Consolation of Philosophy uses it for a student of geometry.^[2]
• 1637 – Crespin records the sense “land surveyor”.^[2][5]
• 1655 – Pascal uses it for a mathematician.^[5][7]
• 1803 – Boiste records it as the name of a moth.^[5][7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A specialist in geometry.^[8][2]
2. A land surveyor, a technician who surveys land and draws up plans: arpenteur géomètre, géomètre expert.^[8][5][1]
3. (dated) A mathematician.^[8][7]
4. A geometer moth, whose caterpillar seems to measure the ground as it moves.^[8][7]

Related words

• géométrie
• géométrique
• géométral
• Latin geōmetrēs
• Ancient Greek γεωμέτρης (geōmétrēs)

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
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 f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert