négociateur

Forms

négociateur m (plural négociateurs, feminine négociatrice)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin negōtiātor (“trader, banker”), derived from negōtior (“to do business”), the source of négocier.^[2][3][4] Wiktionary also allows a formation from French négocier + -ateur.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Nicole Oresme uses it in 1370 in his translation of Aristotle's Ethics for a merchant, of people who love gain.^[2][4] The Grand Robert and Petit Robert date the sense “steward” to 1361.^[5][6]

Semantic evolution

In the late 14th century the word meant a steward who managed someone's affairs (1391).^[2][3] The modern sense, someone who negotiates a public or private matter, is first found in Agrippa d'Aubigné in 1618, where it is misprinted negotiaceur.^[2] Littré's 16th-century quotations show it both for a great trader and for an envoy treating with foreign powers, and it now names in particular a diplomat charged with negotiating a treaty or agreement.^[4][3][6]

Timeline

• 1361 – The Robert dictionaries' date for the sense “steward”.^[5][6]
• 1370 – Oresme uses it for a merchant.^[2]
• 1391 – A letter of remission uses it for a steward of someone's affairs.^[2]
• 1618 – Agrippa d'Aubigné uses it for someone who negotiates a matter.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A person who negotiates a matter or acts as an intermediary to bring about an agreement or deal.^[6][2][4]
2. A diplomat or delegate charged with negotiating a treaty or agreement on behalf of a state.^[6][3][2]

Related words

• négocier
• négociation
• négociant
• négoce
• Latin negōtiātor

References

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