liquider

Forms

liquider^[1]

Etymology

It is probably borrowed from Italian liquidare, a financial term in Italian from the early 16th century, which properly meant “to make fluid” and was taken from Late Latin liquidō (“to make liquid”), derived from Latin liquidus (“liquid”).^[2][3][4] The Grand Robert sees it as formed on liquide after the Italian verb, and Bloch and Wartburg and Littré as a derivative of the adjective in its financial sense.^[5][6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1520, in the customs of Bordeaux, meaning to settle an estate or account by working out assets and debts, collecting what is owed and paying the debts.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Found first in the books of customary law, the verb revived in 19th-century commercial law (absolutely, “to realize one's assets”, 1832) and in everyday use.^[2][3] Balzac uses it in 1839 for settling a question for good, which led to “get rid of something” (1866, the Goncourts) and, in Malraux (1928), “get rid of someone”, a euphemism for killing.^[2][3] Rey thinks these uses were prompted by liquidateur.^[3] In commerce it has meant “sell off cheaply” since 1866.^[2][3]

English liquidate comes from Latin, not from French; its sense “kill” (1924) may come from Russian.^[8]

Timeline

• 1520 – First record, in the customs of Bordeaux.^[2]
• 1832 – Say uses it absolutely, “realize one's assets”.^[2]
• 1839 – Balzac uses it for settling a matter.^[2]
• 1866 – Amiel uses it for selling at low prices; the Goncourts for getting rid of something.^[2]
• 1928 – Malraux uses it for getting rid of a person.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. (law, commerce) To liquidate: to settle (a debt, an estate, a company) by establishing assets and liabilities.^[4][9][2]
2. To sell off (goods) at reduced prices, to clear a stock.^[4][9][1]
3. (familiar) To be done with something, to settle it for good.^[4][9]
4. (familiar) To get rid of someone, especially by killing.^[9][1]

Related words

• liquide
• liquidation
• liquidateur
• Latin liquidus

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 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)