horticulture

Forms

horticulture f (plural horticultures)^[1]

Etymology

It is probably borrowed from English horticulture, which was recorded in 1678 and was coined from Latin hortus (“garden”) on the model of agriculture.^[2][3] The Robert dictionaries and the GLLF make no mention of English and derive the French word directly from the Latin noun and cultūra (“cultivation”), on the same model.^[4][5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1824, in a report of the Linnean Society of Paris on the garden of Fromont, beside botanique, for the art of growing gardens.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The word spread with the horticultural societies and their shows of the 1820s: the GLLF dates it from the Annales de la société d'horticulture (1827),^[6] and the Académie admitted it in 1835.^[7] Balzac used it figuratively in 1840.^[2] Today it covers the growing of vegetables, flowers, fruit trees and ornamental plants as a branch of agriculture.^[5]

Timeline

• 1678 – Horticulture is recorded in English.^[2]
• 1824 – First French record, in a report on the garden of Fromont.^[2][5]
• 1827 – Annales de la société d'horticulture.^[6]
• 1835 – Recorded by the Académie.^[7]
• 1840 – Balzac uses it figuratively.^[2]
• 1872 – An advanced course in horticulture is set up at Versailles, at the National School of Horticulture.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. Horticulture: the branch of agriculture that grows vegetables, flowers, fruit trees and ornamental plants.^[5][2]
2. Horticulture ornementale: the growing of ornamental trees and flowers.^[5]

Related words

• agriculture
• horticulteur
• horticole
• Latin hortus
• English horticulture

References

1. ^ a b 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. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF