international

Forms

international (feminine internationale, masculine plural internationaux, feminine plural internationales)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French inter- + national.^[2][3][4][1] The word entered French through Étienne Dumont's translation of Jeremy Bentham's “An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation” (1780),^[2][5] where Bentham had coined the English word international from inter- and national;^[6] Rey therefore calls the French adjective an anglicism.^[5] The second part is from nation, from Latin nātiō.^[7][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

Dumont's Traités de législation civile et pénale (1802) uses it for what concerns the relations between nations.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

In 1836 the Académie also records “taking place between two or more nations”.^[2][5][4] The word entered the name of the Association internationale des travailleurs (1865), shortened to l'Internationale (1868 according to Rey, 1870 in Flaubert's letters); after its dissolution came the Second (1889), Third (1919) and Fourth (1939) Internationals.^[2][5] In 1871 un international was a member of the First International, and L'Internationale became the title of Eugène Pottier's revolutionary song.^[2][5][9]

The adjective was used from 1870 of a meeting of several nations, first in sport;^[2][5] une internationale was an international sporting event in 1892.^[2][5]

Timeline

• 1780 – Bentham coins English international.^[6][2]
• 1802 – Dumont's French translation of Bentham uses international.^[2]
• 1836 – The Académie records “between several nations”.^[2]
• 1865 – Association internationale des travailleurs.^[2]
• 1871 – L'Internationale becomes the name of Pottier's song, and un international a member of the International.^[2][5]
• 1892 – Une internationale is an international sporting event.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. international: taking place between nations, or concerning the relations between them: relations internationales, droit international.^[10][4][1]
2. Concerning or involving several nations: une renommée internationale;^[4][10] port international, under the control of several nations.^[4][10]
3. (sport) Between teams of different nations: une rencontre internationale.^[10]

Noun

1. A player or athlete chosen for the national team.^[10]
2. (historical) A member of the First International.^[2][9]
3. L'international: the field of international relations, especially in trade: Elle travaille à l'international.^[11]

Word family

• internationalement
• internationale

Related words

• national
• nation
• English international

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 7, 42b
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
10. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)