ordinateur

Forms

ordinateur m (plural ordinateurs)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin ōrdinātor (“one who sets in order, regulator”), a word of Imperial Latin formed on the supine of ōrdinō (“to put in order”) (whence ordonner), from ōrdō (“order”).^[2][3][4][1] The computing sense was proposed by the philologist Jacques Perret in a letter of 16 April 1955, in answer to IBM France, which found calculateur too narrow for these machines;^[1][5] the Grand Robert calls it a learned derivative of the Latin noun or of ordination, made at IBM France's request (1954) to replace the anglicism English computer.^[6] Rey stresses that it was formed after the first sense of the Latin, “to put in order”, rather than the idea of calculating.^[3] Perret had suggested a feminine form, ordinatrice, but the masculine prevailed.^[5]

The same word form had existed since 1491 as a learned borrowing of the Latin word, for one who institutes or orders something, later for one who confers holy orders: the Grand Robert treats it as a separate headword, numbered 1.^[2][3][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Before the computer, the word is first recorded in 1491, in La mer des histoires, of Christ as the one who instituted baptism.^[2][3] In the computing sense the TLFi and Rey date it to 1956, while the Grand Robert gives 1955.^[2][3][6]

Semantic evolution

The old word stayed rare: around 1600 Pasquier used it for one who manages public affairs, Boiste (1823) still listed it as “one who puts in order”, and 19th- and 20th-century dictionaries kept the liturgical sense “one who confers an ecclesiastical order” (1703, Bossuet).^[2][3] As an adjective “that puts in order” it is dated, ordonnateur being preferred.^[2][7]

The computing word, against expectation, won over the anglicism computer and its adaptation computeur.^[3] It gave micro-ordinateur (1971), clipped as micro (1974), mini-ordinateur (1974) and, with a combining form ordino-, ordinogramme (1968); in familiar speech it is shortened to ordi.^[3][7]

Timeline

• 1491 – Ordinateur “one who institutes something” appears in La mer des histoires.^[2][3]
• c. 1600 – Pasquier uses it for one who regulates public affairs.^[2][3]
• 1703 – Bossuet uses it for one who confers holy orders.^[2]
• 1954 – IBM France asks for a French word to replace computer.^[6][3]
• 1955 – Jacques Perret proposes the word in a letter of 16 April.^[1][5][6]
• 1956 – The TLFi's first record of the computing sense.^[2]
• 1968 – Ordinogramme is formed.^[3]
• 1971 – Micro-ordinateur appears.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (computing) A computer: an electronic machine that processes data by carrying out the instructions of a stored program.^[7][8][9]
2. (archaic, Christianity) One who confers ordination.^[2][7][1]

Word family

• micro-ordinateur
• mini-ordinateur
• ordi
• superordinateur
• ordinogramme

Related words

• calculateur
• ordonner
• ordre
• ordination
• ordonnateur
• Latin ōrdinātor

Usage notes

Common phrases are ordinateur portable “laptop” and ordinateur de bureau “desktop computer”.^[7][9][1] The older adjective ordinateur, ordinatrice “that orders, arranges” is rare and learned.^[7][2]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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 g h i j k l m Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ a b c Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
6. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
9. ^ a b Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale