logique

Forms

logique f (plural logiques)^[1] Anglo-Norman logike, logyk.^[2]

Etymology

The noun is borrowed from Latin logica (“logic”),^{[3][4][5][6][1]} from Ancient Greek λογική (logikḗ), short for “the art of reasoning”,^[1][4] the feminine used as a noun of λογικός (logikós, “concerning reason or speech”),^[4][1] from λόγος (lógos, “word, reason”).^[7][5] Rey connects the Greek noun with the Greek verb for “gather, choose, say”, which has the same Indo-European root as Latin legō, the source of lire¹.^[4]

The adjective, recorded in 1536, is borrowed from Latin logicus (“logical, reasonable”), from the same Greek adjective,^[3][4][8][1] though the Grand Robert treats it as formed from the noun.^[5]

Cognate with Old Occitan logica, Spanish lógica and Italian logica.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1245 in Henri d'Andeli's Bataille des sept arts, for the science of the laws of reasoning, one of the liberal arts.^[3][4][2] The Roman de la Rose calls it bien … science autentique, “truly an authoritative science”.^[7]

Semantic evolution

By metonymy it named a treatise on logic (about 1290),^[3][4] and in schools the class where it was taught;^[3][7][9] Littré notes that this class had come to be called philosophie.^[3][7][9] For a long time the word followed Aristotle's syllogistic logic, until the mathematical logic of Leibniz, Boole, Frege and Russell; phrases such as logique des propositions date only from the 20th century.^[4]

From 1718 it also meant a natural ability to reason soundly, and since 1762 a coherent chain of ideas, then of acts or events, as in la logique de la crise.^[3][4] The word passed into computing, whence logiciel.^[4]

The adjective first meant “in keeping with reason, sensible” (1536); “relating to logic” follows in 1821 and “in keeping with the rules of logic” in 1833.^[3][4]

Timeline

• c. 1245 – Henri d'Andeli uses the noun for the science of reasoning.^[3]
• c. 1270 – Anglo-Norman logike is recorded.^[2]
• c. 1290 – It names a treatise on logic.^[3]
• 1536 – The adjective appears.^[3][4][8]
• 1680 – Richelet records étudier en logique.^[3]
• 1718 – The Académie uses it for a natural gift for sound reasoning.^[3][4]
• 1762 – It means a coherent sequence of ideas.^[3][4]
• 1821 – The adjective means “relating to logic”.^[3]
• early 19th century – Illogique appears.^[8]
• 1867 – Littré records analyse logique.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Logic, the science of the forms and laws of valid thought: Elle étudie la logique formelle.^[10][9][3]
2. A treatise on logic, as the Logique de Port-Royal.^[9][7]
3. (dated) The school class now called philosophie.^[9][7]
4. A way of reasoning, especially a sound one; the ability to reason correctly: Ton argument manque de logique.^[3][7][9]
5. A coherent sequence of ideas, acts or events; the inner rationale of a situation.^[3][4]

Adjective

1. Logical, in keeping with the rules of logic.^[10][3]
2. In keeping with good sense; coherent, natural or to be expected: Sa décision paraît logique.^[10][3]
3. Of a person: reasoning coherently and soundly.^[10][3]

Word family

• logicien
• illogique

Related words

• logiciel
• Ancient Greek λόγος (lógos)
• English logic

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v 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
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 5, 398b
7. ^ a b c d e f g h Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
9. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
10. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert