naturaliser

Forms

naturaliser^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned formation from French naturel + -iser, made on the model of Latin nātūrālis (“natural”).^[2][1][3] The TLFi and Bloch and Wartburg describe it as derived from the Latin adjective itself, with the same suffix.^[4][5][6] Rey explains that the verb took up the legal sense of the Latin adjective, keeping the link between nātūra and nātiō through the idea of birth, where nationaliser would have been the expected word.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record, from 1471, in the ordinances of the kings of France, is legal: to make someone a citizen of a nation by a legal act.^[4][7]

Semantic evolution

In 1553 Muret applied it to a word, saying that Latin manes should be naturalized and made French; the verb has since been used of words and customs brought in from abroad.^[4][7][8] In 1599 Olivier de Serres used it for acclimatizing a plant, later also an animal, as in his turkeys naturalisées en ce roiaume.^[4][7][6] Montaigne played on the word when he said he would naturaliser l'art as others make nature artful.^[6]

The pronominal se naturaliser avec “to become familiar with” (before 1704, Bourdaloue) has disappeared.^[4][7] The sense “to prepare a dead animal so that it looks alive”, close to empailler, was recorded by Littré in 1872 and Larousse in 1874.^[4][8][3]

Timeline

• 1471 – First record in the legal sense.^[4][5]
• 1552 – Estranger naturalisé “naturalized foreigner” is recorded.^[7]
• 1553 – Muret uses it of a Latin word made French.^[4][7]
• 1566 – The noun naturalisation is recorded.^[5][7]
• 1599 – Olivier de Serres uses it for acclimatizing.^[4][7]
• Before 1704 – Bourdaloue uses se naturaliser avec “to become familiar with”.^[4]
• 1872 – Littré records the taxidermy sense.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To grant a foreigner the citizenship of a country, to naturalize: se faire naturaliser Français.^[8][9][3]
2. To acclimatize a plant or animal species permanently outside its native land.^[8][3]
3. (figurative) To bring in and adopt for good a word or custom from abroad.^[8][3]
4. To preserve a dead animal or a plant so that it looks alive, to stuff.^[8][3][1]

Word family

• naturalisation
• naturalisé
• dénaturaliser

Related words

• naturel
• nature
• naturaliste
• Latin nātūrālis

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ 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
5. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e f 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)