intermédiaire

Forms

intermédiaire (plural intermédiaires)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin intermedius (“that is in between”), with the French suffix -aire: a learned formation.^[2][3][4][5] The Latin adjective is formed on medius (“in the middle”).^[6][4][2] Wiktionary derives it instead from intermède with the same suffix, influenced in form by médiaire.^[1] The word is older than its first record, since the adverb intermédiairement is found from 1605 (Rey) or 1608 (the TLFi, in Le Loyer).^[5][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi dates the adjective to 1678, meaning “that is between two terms and forms a transition, or represents a middle state”;^[2] the GLLF finds it in the Ordonnance of 1667, cited by Bornier in 1678.^[7]

Semantic evolution

In the 18th century the adjective was applied specially to wages that fell due during a vacancy (1704).^[5] As a noun it meant an intermediate state (1762, Rousseau's Émile); from 1774, in Beaumarchais, it named a person who comes between two others to put them in touch;^[2][5] Féraud (1787) used it of a thing, a use that has aged.^[5] From these come sans intermédiaire “directly” and par l'intermédiaire de (1800, Bonald).^[5][2] Littré records technical uses such as commerce intermédiaire and, in geology, terrains intermédiaires;^[8] in commerce the noun names any middleman between producer and buyer.^[9]

Timeline

• 1605 – The adverb intermédiairement is recorded.^[5]
• 1678 – First record of the adjective.^[2][3][7]
• 1704 – It is used of wages due during a vacancy.^[5]
• 1762 – Rousseau uses the noun for intermediate states.^[2][5]
• 1774 – Beaumarchais uses it for a person who acts as a go-between.^[2][5]
• 1800 – Bonald uses par l'intermédiaire de.^[2][5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Placed between two terms, forming a transition or occupying a middle position: une couleur intermédiaire entre le vert et le bleu.^[6][10][2]

Noun

1. (masculine) An intermediate term or state;^[6][10] sans intermédiaire, directly.^[6][10]
2. A person who comes between two others to connect them, a go-between.^[9][2]
3. (commerce) A middleman, such as a wholesaler, agent or broker.^[9]
4. Par l'intermédiaire de: through, by means of someone or something.^[9][6][5]

Related words

• intermède
• médiaire
• Latin intermedius

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
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 j k l Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
10. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)