Etymologically
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opération

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 11:44. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɔ.pe.ʁa.sjɔ̃/[1]

Forms

opération f (plural opérations)[1] The Académie wrote operation in 1694 and 1718, opération from 1740.[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin operātiō (“work; in Christian Latin, action, effect; divine working”), formed on the past participle of operor (“to work”) (see opérer), from opus (“work”).[2][3][4][5][1] The Christian sense “working of the Holy Spirit” is found in the early 5th century, and the alchemical sense in Medieval Latin before 1235.[2]

Compare Occitan operacio, Spanish operación and Italian operazione.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Hystore Job (late 13th century) has sainte operation, a sacred activity, “work”.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Gilles li Muisis (about 1350) uses it for the action of a power that produces an effect, and Oresme (1370–72) for the working of God, Menot (1508) has par l'operation du benoist Sainct Esperit, whence the ironic par l'opération du Saint-Esprit “by some mysterious means” (1874).[2][4][7] Surgery uses it from 1314 (Henri de Mondeville), mathematics from 1557, and chemistry from 1631.[2]

Military opérations date from Furetière (1701), and financial ones from Voltaire (1770); Necker speaks of opérations de banque (1784).[2][4] From 1952 it is followed by a noun to name a planned campaign.[2]

Timeline

  • Late 13th century – Sainte operation.[2]
  • 1314 – A surgical operation, Henri de Mondeville.[2]
  • c. 1350 – The action of a power, Gilles li Muisis.[2]
  • 1508 – L'operation du Sainct Esperit, Menot.[2]
  • 1557 – In mathematics.[2]
  • 1701 – Military operations.[2]
  • 1770 – Financial operations, Voltaire.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (medicine) An operation: subir une opération, salle d'opération.[7][1]
  2. An action or series of actions to obtain a result; the working of a device: les opérations de la digestion.[7][1]
  3. (mathematics) An operation.[2]
  4. (military) An operation, campaign: opérations militaires, théâtre d'opérations.[2][7]
  5. A financial or commercial transaction: opération de bourse.[4][7]
  6. A planned campaign, named by a following noun.[2]
  7. Par l'opération du Saint-Esprit: by some mysterious means.[7]

Word family

  • opérationnel

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r 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 d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 7, 367a
  6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert