migration

Forms

migration f (plural migrations)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin migrātiō (“passing from one place to another”),^[2][3][4][1] from the supine of migrō (“to change one's dwelling, depart”).^[3][5][6] Rey reports that the verb has been explained as derived from a lost adjective, from an Indo-European root Proto-Indo-European *mei- (“to change”), which he links to muer, commun and immunité.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in Jean de Vignay's Miroir historial, in the sense of a people leaving one country to settle in another;^{[4][5][6][2][3]} Bloch and Wartburg, the Grand Robert and the GLLF date it 1495, the Trésor and Rey 1531, after the edition used.^{[4][5][6][2][3]}

Semantic evolution

In the 16th century migration replaced the older transmigration for the movement of a population from one country to another.^[3] In 1585 it also meant the passing of souls into other bodies.^[2] Buffon applied it in 1770 to the seasonal journeys of animals, especially birds.^[2][6] Later uses are scientific: the movement of parasites during their development (1872),^[2] of organisms, cells and substances,^[7][6] and, figuratively, of capital.^[6]

Timeline

• 1495 – First record, in Jean de Vignay's Miroir historial.^[4][6]
• 1585 – Used for the transmigration of souls.^[2]
• 1770 – Buffon uses it for the migration of birds.^[2][6]
• 1840 – The derivative migratoire appears.^[4]
• 1867 – Migrateur is formed on the stem of migration.^[4]
• 1872 – Used for the movement of parasites.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. The movement of people or populations from one country or region to another to settle there: migrations intérieures, within one country.^[7][2][6]
2. The seasonal migration of an animal species over long distances, as of swallows or salmon.^[7][8]
3. (religion, figurative) Migration des âmes: the transmigration of souls.^[7]
4. (science) The movement of an organism during its development, or of cells or a substance within a medium.^[7][6]
5. (figurative) A mass movement or flight, as of capital.^[6]

Word family

• migrateur
• migratoire

Related words

• migrer
• émigration
• immigration
• transmigration
• Latin migrō

References

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