parodie

Forms

parodie f (plural parodies)^[1]

Etymology

It is probably borrowed from Ancient Greek παρῳδία (parōidía, “burlesque imitation of a poem”),^[2][3][4][5] derived from παρῳδός (parōidós, “author of parodies”), from παρά (pará, “beside”) and ᾠδή (ōidḗ, “song”), the source of ode.^[2][3][6] The TLFi and Rey prefer this to a borrowing of Latin parodia, which seems to be a single word of a glossator.^[2][3] The GLLF and Larousse derive it from the Latin word, itself from the Greek.^[7][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi's first record is in a remonstrance by Nesmond in 1615, meaning a burlesque imitation of a serious work.^[2][7] Bloch and Wartburg, the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert date it 1614.^[4][5][9]

Semantic evolution

The word was first used of 17th-century poetic forms, then of any work turned to comic ends.^[3] In 1751 Voltaire used it for words written to be sung to a known tune, a sense now dated.^[2][3][7] The figurative sense, a grotesque counterfeit that keeps only the outward look of something, dates from 1827, in Hugo's preface to Cromwell (the GLLF names Chateaubriand), and the phrase une parodie de justice is recorded by the Académie in 1935.^[2][3][7]

The verb parodier is recorded before 1615 (1580 according to Bloch and Wartburg) and followed the same path to “imitate grotesquely” (1813).^[3][4] The noun parodiste dates from 1730, or 1723 according to Bloch and Wartburg.^[3][4]

Timeline

• 1614 – The date of first record given by Bloch and Wartburg and the Robert dictionaries.^[4][5]
• 1615 – Nesmond uses it for a burlesque imitation of a serious work.^[2][7]
• 1751 – Voltaire uses it for a song text written to a known tune.^[2][7]
• 1827 – Figurative sense “grotesque imitation” in Hugo's preface to Cromwell.^[2]
• 1935 – The Académie records une parodie de justice.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A burlesque or satirical imitation of a serious work, a parody.^[9][8][2]
2. (figurative) A grotesque imitation or travesty of something: une parodie de justice.^[7][10][8]
3. (dated) Words or verses written to be sung to a well-known tune.^[9][2]

Word family

• parodier
• parodiste
• parodique

Related words

• ode
• Ancient Greek παρῳδία (parōidía)

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d e f g h Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
9. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)