gnomon

Forms

gnomon^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin gnōmōn (“pointer of a sundial”),^[2][3][4][1] from Ancient Greek γνώμων (gnṓmōn, “indicator”).^[1][2] The Greek word first meant “that which serves as a rule, regulator”, and named such instruments as the carpenter's square and the sundial;^[3][5][6] it is of the same origin as γνώμη (gnṓmē), the source of gnomique.^[3][7] Littré explains it as “one who knows, who indicates”, from the Greek verb for knowing.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1547 in Jean Martin's French translation of Vitruvius's Architecture (book IX), for the pointer of a sundial.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The word has always been technical.^[3] It names the instrument that measures the height of the sun from the length of a shadow and, by metonymy, the upright rod of that instrument, the style.^[3][2] Littré gives both the great style used by astronomers and the pointer of a sundial.^[8] The derivative gnomonique appeared in the same year as an adjective, and in 1660 as a noun, the art of making sundials.^[3]

Timeline

• 1547 – Jean Martin's translation of Vitruvius uses gnomon.^[2][4]
• 1547 – The adjective gnomonique is first recorded.^[3]
• 1660 – Gnomonique is used as a noun.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (astronomy) An ancient instrument made of a vertical rod casting a shadow on a flat surface, used to find the height of the sun (or moon) above the horizon and so the time.^[2][5][9]
2. The rod or style of such an instrument; the pointer of a sundial.^[8][3][10]
3. A primitive sundial made of a simple rod.^[11]

Word family

• gnomonique

Related words

• gnomique
• gnome
• Latin gnōmōn

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f 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 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. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
11. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)