manifestation

Forms

manifestation f (plural manifestations)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ecclesiastical Latin manifestātiō (“revelation, appearance of Christ”),^[2][3][4] a noun formed from the supine of manifestō (“to make plain, reveal”).^[2][5] The sense “public demonstration” comes from the older word with the semantic influence of manifeste and of manifestant.^[2][3]

Cognate with Old Occitan manifestation, Spanish manifestación and Italian manifestazione.^[6] English manifestation was taken from Late Latin in the early 15th century.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1200 in the Dialogues of Saint Gregory, for God revealing himself.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Until the 16th century the word was religious: from 1553 it means making something visible, still in a religious context,^[2][3] and the Académie of 1694 says it was used only in sacred matters.^[8] Calvin wrote of the full manifestation that God keeps for the next life.^[6]

From 1749 it is used in a lay sense for the act of showing a feeling or an opinion.^[2][3] It took special senses in medicine, the outward signs of an illness (early 20th century), and in linguistics.^[5][3]

The public expression of opinions led, under the influence of manifestant, to the sense of a gathering held to press a cause: contre-manifestation is recorded in 1848, and Mérimée used manifestation in 1857 of the plans of the “reds” for Béranger's funeral.^[3][2] A public ceremony in someone's honour followed (1887, or 1889 in Verlaine).^[3][2] The familiar clipping manif dates from 1952.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 1200 – First record, in the Dialogues of Saint Gregory, of God's self-revelation.^[2]
• 1553 – The Gérard Bible uses it for making something visible.^[2]
• 1694 – The Académie limits it to sacred matters.^[8]
• 1749 – D'Argenson uses it for the public expression of a feeling or opinion.^[2]
• 1848 – Contre-manifestation is recorded.^[3]
• 1857 – Mérimée uses it for a political demonstration.^[2][3]
• 1889 – Verlaine uses it for a ceremony in someone's honour.^[2]
• 1952 – The clipping manif appears.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (theology) The way God makes himself known; a revelation.^[9][5]
2. The act of showing or expressing something; an outward sign: une manifestation de colère.^[9][10]
3. (medicine) A symptom or clinical sign of a disease.^[9][5]
4. A public cultural, artistic or commercial event: manifestation musicale.^[9][10]
5. A public demonstration or march to voice an opinion or a demand; familiarly manif.^[2][10]

Word family

• manif
• contre-manifestation

Related words

• manifester
• manifeste
• manifestant
• Latin manifestātiō
• English manifestation

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 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 g h i j k l Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ a b Académie française (1694), Le Dictionnaire de l'Académie françoise, 1st ed., Paris: Coignard
9. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)