ornementation

Forms

ornementation f (plural ornementations)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French ornementer + -ation.^[2][1] The Robert dictionaries derive it straight from ornement,^[3][4] and Bloch and Wartburg list it among the derivatives of the noun, with the date 1838, before the verb (1868).^[5] The TLFi finds the verb once in 1532 and again only from 1858.^[2] That noun continues from Latin ōrnāmentum (“equipment, ornament”), or is an early borrowing of it.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi dates it to 1840 (the Complément of the Académie dictionary, 1842); the Robert dictionaries and the GLLF date it 1838, in the sense “art or manner of arranging ornaments”.^[2][3][4][6]

Semantic evolution

It began as a term of the fine arts for the way ornaments are arranged, and the Académie still defines it so in 1932, naming architecture, sculpture, bookbinding and engraving.^[6][7][8] By the end of the 19th century it also meant the whole set of ornaments decorating something.^[6][4] The phrase d'ornementation is used as an adjective, “decorative”.^[2]

Timeline

• 1838 – First recorded, for the art of arranging ornaments.^[3][6][5]
• 1840 – The Académie's Complément (1842) has the word.^[2]
• 1868 – The verb ornementer is recorded, in Littré.^[2][5]
• Late 19th century – It names a set of ornaments, in Léon Bloy.^[6]
• 1932 – The Académie defines it as a term of the fine arts.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. The action or art of adorning something with ornaments; décoration.^[2][4][6]
2. The set of ornaments that decorate something.^[4][6]
3. D'ornementation: decorative, ornamental.^[2]

Related words

• ornement
• ornemental
• orner

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
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. ^ a b Académie française (1932–1935), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 8th ed., Paris: Hachette
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette