instruction

Forms

instruction f (plural instructions)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin īnstrūctiō (“arranging, setting in order”), first recorded in 1320.^[2][3] The Latin noun is formed on īnstrūctum, the supine of īnstruō (“to set in order, equip, teach”), the source of instruire; in Late Latin it had come to mean teaching.^[2][3][4] The Robert dictionaries and the GLLF date the first record to 1319.^[5][4]

Cognate with Occitan instructio, Spanish instruccion and Italian istruzione.^[6] The Anglo-Norman enstruccioun meant teaching, knowledge and also an order or mandate.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

In 1320 it meant an order or directive given by a superior to those under him; from about 1500, often in the plural, the orders and information given to an ambassador or other envoy.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The sense of teaching, “the action of passing on knowledge to someone”, appears in 1483, in the title of a book de l’Instruction d’un jeune prince.^[2][6] Montaigne used the word in 1580 for the learning a person has acquired (sans aucune instruction de lettres), a sense that aged after the classical period.^[2][3] In the 17th century it also meant a lesson or moral precept (1662, Corneille), which survives in religion as instruction pastorale (1702).^[2][3]

The law took the word up in 1636 for the preparation of a case, and juge d’instruction is recorded from 1822.^[2][3] From 1690, by extension of the idea of explaining, it meant written or spoken directions for using something.^[2][3] Soon after the Revolution it named the organised teaching of the young in a society, instruction publique (1791), and then the body of knowledge in a field (1794), whence instruction religieuse (1802).^[2][3] Computing took the word over in the 1960s for a coded order carried out by a machine.^[2][8]

Timeline

• 1320 – First recorded, as an order given by a superior to subordinates.^[2][3]
• 1483 – First used for the action of teaching someone.^[2][3]
• c. 1500 – Commynes uses it for the orders given to an envoy.^[2]
• 1580 – Montaigne uses it for knowledge gained by study.^[2]
• 1636 – Monet records instruction de procès in law.^[2][3]
• 1662 – Corneille uses it for a lesson or precept.^[2]
• 1690 – Furetière records the sense “directions for use”.^[2]
• 1791 – Instruction publique appears.^[2][3]
• 1822 – First record of juge d’instruction.^[2][3]
• 1968 – The computing sense is recorded.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. (dated or literary) The action of teaching someone what is useful or necessary to know.^[8][2]
2. Education, the training of the mind given to the young;^[8][6] instruction publique, state education.^[8][6]
3. Teaching in a particular field: instruction religieuse, instruction civique, instruction militaire.^[8]
4. Knowledge, learning: avoir de l’instruction, to be educated.^[8][1]
5. (dated) A lesson or moral precept;^[8] (religion) instruction pastorale, a bishop's pastoral letter.^[8]
6. (chiefly in the plural) directions, orders given to someone charged with a task or mission: Elle a suivi les instructions de son chef.^[8][1]
7. Directions for using something.^[2][3]
8. (law) The preliminary investigation of a case before trial;^[2][1] juge d’instruction, examining magistrate.^[2][1]
9. (computing) A coded order that makes a processor carry out an elementary task.^[8][2]

Related words

• instruire
• Latin īnstrūctiō

References

1. ^ a b c d e f 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 s t u v w x y 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert