inscrire

Forms

inscrire^[1] Old French enscrire (13th century); inscripvre, inscripre in 1482.^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin īnscrībō (“to write on, inscribe”), formed from in- (“in”) and scrībō (“to write”), with the ending made French after écrire.^{[2][3][4][1][5]} The 13th-century enscrire was taken up again in 1482 as inscripvre, inscripre.^[3]

Cognate with Spanish inscribir and Italian inscrivere.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the 13th century as enscrire in a medical text from Liège, meaning to write something in a book or list to record it.^[2][3] The Grand Robert dates this form to 1223, the Petit Robert to 1233.^[4][7]

Semantic evolution

Rare until the 16th century, the verb was used in 1482 for entering names in a register, reflexively from 1636, while from 1611 it also meant engraving on stone and the like.^[3][2] In law s'inscrire en faux or à faux (1611, Cotgrave) is to undertake to prove a document false, hence figuratively to deny something.^[3][2] In 1647 Descartes used it in geometry for drawing one figure inside another.^[2][3] Figuratively it also means to place within a wider frame, mostly in the reflexive.^[3]

The participle inscrit has been used since 1835 of a person whose name is on a list, and since 1864 of a seaman on the register of the Inscription maritime.^[3] In Swiss French a colis inscrit is a registered parcel.^[3]

Timeline

• 13th century – Enscrire appears in a medical text from Liège.^[2][3]
• 1433 – Anglo-Norman inscrire “to write up” is recorded.^[8]
• 1482 – Se inscripvre is used for entering names in a register.^[2][3]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records s'inscrire à faux, ou en faux.^[2]
• 1636 – The reflexive use “to enter one's name” is found.^[3]
• 1647 – Descartes uses it in geometry.^[2][3]
• 1835 – Inscrit is used of a person on a list.^[3]
• 1864 – Inscrit maritime is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To write or engrave on stone, marble or metal: inscrire un nom sur une plaque.^[7][1][6]
2. To write down in a register or on a list so as to keep a record: inscrire ses dépenses dans un carnet.^[7][2][1]
3. To enter (someone) on a list, to enrol or register: inscrire sa fille à l'école.^[7][1][6]
4. (reflexive) S'inscrire: to sign up, enrol (for a course, a club).^[1][3]
5. (mathematics) To inscribe a figure inside another.^[1][6][2]
6. (figurative) To place within a wider frame, chiefly s'inscrire dans.^[3][9]
7. (law) S'inscrire en faux: to contest the authenticity of a document; figuratively, to deny.^[3][2]
8. (sports) To chalk up, notch up (points).^[1]

Word family

• inscrit
• réinscrire
• non-inscrit

Related words

• inscription
• écrire
• Latin īnscrībō

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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 r s Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 4, 709a
6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
9. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse