immobiliser

Forms

immobiliser^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French immobile + -iser.^[2][3] The Grand Robert calls it a learned derivative of Latin immōbilis (“immovable, of real property”),^[4] and the Petit Robert derives it straight from the Latin word.^[5] Littré analyses it instead as the negative prefix im- with mobiliser.^[6] An earlier verb immobiliter with the same sense of “to make immobile” is recorded in 1507.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1654, in Cyrano de Bergerac's comedy Le Pédant joué, meaning “to make immobile, to stop”.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The legal sense “to give movable property the status of real estate” appears in 1802, taken from the special sense of Latin immobilis “immovable (property)”.^[2][3] In medicine the verb came to mean keeping a fractured limb still (1864).^[3]

The general sense produced figurative uses: “to halt progress” (1839, George Sand) and “to make unable to act, to paralyse” (1857, Flaubert).^[3] In economics immobiliser des capitaux means to tie up capital so that it is not available (before 1902, Zola).^[3][7] The reflexive s'immobiliser “to come to a standstill” is not found before the end of the 19th century, in the Goncourts.^[3]

English immobilize (1843) is perhaps modelled on the French verb.^[8]

Timeline

• 1507 – The earlier verb immobiliter “to make immobile” is recorded.^[2]
• 1654 – Cyrano de Bergerac uses immobiliser “to make immobile”.^[2][3]
• 1771 – Schmidlin's dictionary records it, the first date the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert give.^[7][4][5]
• 1802 – The legal sense “to give movable property the status of real estate” appears.^[2][3]
• 1839 – George Sand uses it for halting progress.^[3]
• 1843 – English immobilize is recorded.^[8]
• 1864 – It is used of keeping a broken limb still.^[3]
• Before 1902 – Zola writes of capital tied up (immobiliser des capitaux).^[7][3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To make immobile, to stop the movement of someone or something, to hold still: la neige a immobilisé les camions.^[5][2]
2. (figurative) To make unable to act or react, to paralyse, for example under a strong emotion.^[5][3]
3. (medicine) To keep a limb or the body still with bandages or a splint.^[5][7]
4. (finance) Immobiliser des capitaux: to tie up capital so that it is not available.^[5][3]
5. (figurative) To make stationary, to prevent progress.^[5][3]
6. (law) To convert movable property fictitiously into real estate (immeuble).^[5][6]
7. S'immobiliser: to stop, to become motionless.^[5][3]

Word family

• immobilisation
• immobilisable
• immobilisant

Related words

• immobile
• mobiliser
• immobilité
• Latin immōbilis
• English immobilize

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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
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 Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com