localiser

Forms

localiser^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French local + -iser.^[2][1][3][4] The adjective local is from Late Latin locālis (“relating to a place”), from locus (“place”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It was created during the Revolution: the TLFi's first record is Roux's French–German dictionary of 1796, with the sense “to put in order, arrange”.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

In 1798 Schwan's dictionary gives it the sense “to make local, adapt”.^[2][5][6] A few years later it took its modern meaning, “to place in a given spot by thought” (Destutt de Tracy, 1801), then “to place at a certain date” (Maine de Biran, 1818).^[2][5] In medicine Broussais spoke of localizing diseases in 1826,^[2][5] and Mozin's dictionary of 1842 has the sense “to confine within limits”.^[6][7]

The past participle localisé has been used as an adjective since 1827, as in Hugo's émeute localisée (1862).^[2][5] From the verb come localisation (1803) and, much later, the prefixed délocaliser.^[5]

Timeline

• 1796 – Roux records it in the sense “to arrange”.^[2][6]
• 1798 – Schwan gives the sense “to make local, adapt”.^[2][3]
• 1801 – Destutt de Tracy uses it for placing something in space by thought.^[2][6]
• 1818 – Maine de Biran uses it for placing in time.^[2][5]
• 1826 – Broussais writes of localizing diseases.^[2][5]
• 1842 – Mozin records the sense “to confine within limits”.^[6][7]
• 1862 – Hugo writes émeute localisée in Les Misérables.^[2][5]

Meanings

Verb

1. (transitive) To locate: to determine the place of something or someone, or where a phenomenon comes from: localiser l'origine d'une fuite.^[8][9][10] Also, to pinpoint precisely by measurement, as by radar.^[8][9]
2. To place at a certain date: localiser un événement dans le temps.^[8][2]
3. To place or site in a given spot: localiser une usine près du port.^[8]
4. To confine or contain within limits: localiser un incendie.^[8][7]
5. (reflexive) Se localiser: to settle in one spot, as a disease does.^[11]

Word family

• localisation

Related words

• local
• localité
• délocaliser
• Latin locus

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 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 5, 387a
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 c d e Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
11. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette