manipuler

Forms

manipuler^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French manipule + -er, from the old pharmacy sense of that noun, “a handful of plants”.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} That noun is from Latin manipulus (“handful”), from manus (“hand”) with an obscure second element.^[3][6] Medieval Latin had a verb manipulō (1045), but it meant “to lead by the hand”;^[2][3] Wiktionary takes the French verb from it.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1765, in the Encyclopédie (under manipulation), meaning to carry out laboratory operations by hand.^[2][3][4]

Semantic evolution

By extension it came to mean to handle and move things.^[3][5] The Académie recorded the sense “to play with between the fingers” in 1835.^[7] In 1842 Louis Reybaud used it figuratively of an election: to arrange by subtle or dishonest means.^[2][8][3] More generally it came to mean to influence someone without their knowledge, a sense in which it replaced manier.^[3]

Its derivative manipulateur appeared in 1738 with a figurative political sense, then (1762) for a laboratory worker and (1868) for a signalling instrument.^[3] manipulable is recorded in 1907 in Bergson, after English manipulable (1881).^[2] The noun manipulation (1716) is older than the verb;^[3] Corominas takes its mining sense from Spanish, but in its chemical sense (1760) it was formed from manipuler.^[3]

Timeline

• 1765 – The Encyclopédie uses manipuler of laboratory work.^[2][4]
• 1835 – The Académie records “to play with between the fingers”.^[7]
• 1842 – Reybaud uses it of manipulating an election.^[2][8]
• 1873 – Larousse records further senses.^[7]
• 1907 – Bergson uses manipulable.^[2]
• 1941 – Manipulant names a postal worker who handles items.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To handle carefully for scientific or technical operations: manipuler des éprouvettes.^[5][9][2]
2. To hold and use with the hands: manipuler un appareil photo.^[10][7]
3. To handle and move (goods): manipuler des cartons.^[5][9]
4. To alter (something) more or less dishonestly; to tamper with: manipuler des chiffres.^[5][9]
5. (figurative) To manipulate (a person or a group), to influence them skilfully into thinking or acting as one wishes.^[5][2][3]

Word family

• manipulateur
• manipulable

Related words

• manipule
• manipulation
• main
• Latin manipulus

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 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
9. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)