mémorandum

Forms

mémorandum m (plural mémorandums)^[1] Also written memorandum by some 19th-century authors; the Académie has recorded it since 1878.^[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin memorandum (“a thing to be remembered”), the neuter singular, used as a noun, of memorandus (“that must be remembered”), the gerundive of memorō (“to recall, mention”).^{[2][3][4][5][6]} The word was used in Old Gascon in 1399, and in English from the 15th century, notably for the terms of an agreement and in diplomacy, so Beaumarchais may have taken it from English memorandum.^[2][3] The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert call it an English borrowing outright, while the GLLF calls it a Modern Latin word.^[7][8][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1777 in Beaumarchais's Courrier de l'Europe, in a report of a speech by Lord Shelburne, for a written note setting out the essential facts of a matter, especially in diplomacy.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

From 1780 it was also a note recording the essential terms of an agreement or treaty.^[2] The everyday sense, a set of notes one does not want to forget, is found in Musset in 1831, and by 1840 it also named the notebook in which they are written;^[2][3] Barbey d'Aurevilly used it as the title of his notes.^[2][3] In 1903 the Nouveau Larousse illustré recorded a commercial sense, an order for goods handed to a supplier.^[2][6] The familiar clipping mémo dates from the 20th century.^[8]

Timeline

• 1777 – Beaumarchais uses it in the Courrier de l'Europe in diplomacy.^[2][4]
• 1780 – A note of the terms of an agreement or treaty.^[2]
• 1831 – Musset uses it for notes taken so as not to forget.^[2]
• 1840 – Also the notebook for such notes.^[2][3]
• 1878 – The Académie records it.^[2]
• 1903 – A purchase order to a supplier, in the Nouveau Larousse illustré.^[2][6]
• 20th century – The clipping mémo appears.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. (diplomacy) A written note in which a diplomat sets out his government's view on a question under negotiation.^[8][6][5]
2. A note of something one wants to remember, a memorandum, also the notebook holding such notes.^[8][2][5]
3. (commerce) An order note sent to a supplier.^[8][2]

Word family

• mémo

Related words

• mémento
• mémoire
• commémorer
• mémorable
• Latin memorō

Usage notes

The plural is mémorandums, with the accent and the regular plural of a word made French.^[2][8]

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert