horizon

Forms

horizon m (plural horizons)^[1] Old French orizonte (after 1250), then orizon (1328).^[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin horizōn (“horizon (in astronomy); limit of the view”),^[3][2][4] from Ancient Greek ὁρίζων (horízōn, “(circle) bounding the view”), the present participle of ὁρίζω (horízō, “to bound, limit”), derived from ὅρος (hóros, “boundary, limit”).^[2][5][6] The spelling with ⟨h⟩ is a late etymological refashioning, of the early 17th century according to Rey and of the 16th according to the GLLF.^[2][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

In an astronomical treatise of the second half of the 13th century, orizonte is the circular line where the earth seems to meet the sky.^[3]

Semantic evolution

By extension the word came to mean the parts of the sky (1611, Cotgrave) and of the land or sea (1671, Pomey) near that line, whence voir à l'horizon.^[3][2] In astronomy it named the theoretical circle dividing the celestial sphere (1611), with horizon rationnel in Richelet (1680).^[3][2] Bleu horizon, the colour of French army uniforms during and after the war of 1914–1918, dates from the early 20th century.^[2][5]

Figuratively it came to mean the field open to thought or action, the prospects one sees (1820, Lamartine), with horizon politique (1839), ouvrir des horizons (recorded by the Académie in 1935) and tour d'horizon, a general survey (20th century).^[5][2] In the 19th century it also named the limits of a person's outlook (un horizon étroit), and à l'horizon followed by a year, “in the prospect of”, appears about 1971.^[2] The derivative horizontal is recorded in 1545; its feminine horizontale was slang for a prostitute in 1881.^[2][6]

Timeline

• After 1250 – Orizonte in an astronomical treatise.^[3][2]
• 1328 – Orison in Guillaume de Digulleville.^[3]
• 1545 – The derivative horizontal.^[2]
• Early 17th century – The spelling horizon.^[2]
• 1611 – Cotgrave: the visible sky near the horizon; the astronomical circle.^[3]
• 1671 – Pomey: the stretch of landscape one can see.^[3]
• 1820 – Lamartine: a figurative horizon.^[5]
• 1839 – L'horizon politique.^[2]
• c. 1971 – À l'horizon + a year.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. The line where the sky and the earth or sea seem to meet: la ligne d'horizon, à l'horizon, in the distance.^[7][8]
2. (astronomy) The great circle dividing the celestial sphere into a visible and an invisible half.^[7][3]
3. The stretch of land, sea or sky that one can see around one.^[8][3]
4. (figurative) The field open to thought or activity; prospects: ouvrir des horizons, tour d'horizon, a general survey.^[8][2][5]
5. À l'horizon + a year: by, in the prospect of that year.^[2]
6. Bleu horizon: the grey-blue of French army uniforms in the First World War.^[2][5]

Word family

• horizontal
• horizonner

Related words

• Latin horizōn
• Ancient Greek ὅρος (hóros)

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ 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
4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 4, 482b
5. ^ 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
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)