moderniser

Forms

moderniser^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French moderne + -iser.^[2][1][3][4] The TLFi and the DHLF compare the English verb modernize, recorded from 1748, and the DHLF thinks the French verb may have been formed after it.^[2][5] The adjective is from Late Latin modernus (“recent”), from the adverb modo (“recently, just now”).^[4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is of 1754, in a French translation of Pope's works, in the sense “to give a modern character to”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The verb displaced moderner (1758) in the 19th century.^[5] It was rare before about 1840, when the Académie admitted it,^[6] and Littré still marks it as a neologism.^[7] The pronominal se moderniser “to adopt modern ways” is found in Balzac.^[6] The sense “to organize according to present needs and means”, applied to techniques, teaching and businesses, became the usual one.^[6][8]

Its derivatives came later: modernisation in 1876 and modernisateur about 1950, which replaced moderniseur (1859).^[5]

Timeline

• 1748 – The English verb to modernize is recorded.^[2][5]
• 1754 – First French record, in a translation of Pope.^[2][4]
• 1796 – Le Néologiste français lists the word.^[2]
• before 1850 – Balzac uses the pronominal se moderniser.^[6]
• 1876 – The noun modernisation appears.^[5]

Meanings

Verb

1. To make modern, to give an up-to-date look to: moderniser une cuisine.^[8][9][6]
2. To reorganize something to fit present needs and means: moderniser l'administration.^[8][10][6]
3. (pronominal) Se moderniser: to adopt modern ways.^[6][8]

Word family

• modernisation
• modernisateur

Related words

• moderne
• modernisme
• moderniste
• modernité
• English modernize

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
10. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)