philharmonique

Forms

philharmonique (plural philharmoniques)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Italian filarmonico (“one who loves music”),^[2][1][3][4] a compound of Ancient Greek φίλος (phílos, “friend”) and ἁρμονία (harmonía, “fitting together, concord of sounds”).^[2] The Robert dictionaries and Rey analyse it as formed in French from phil(o)- and Latin harmonia on the model of the Italian word.^[5][6][7] The Italian noun is recorded from 1550 (Vasari) for a lover of music or a member of a society of music lovers, and as an adjective from the 18th century.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Charles de Brosses used it as a noun in 1739, in his letters from Italy, for the members of a literary society of Verona.^[2][3][7]

Semantic evolution

The Encyclopédie used société philharmonique in 1765 for the society of Verona.^[3] As an adjective it described people who love or cultivate music (1797, Gattel).^[2][3][7] From 1805 it qualified a local society of amateur musicians.^[2][7] Bloch and Wartburg date the modern sense to 1823.^[8] In the 20th century it was also used of large orchestras of classical music (1938), partly by a fresh borrowing.^[2][7] Colette used the feminine noun for such a society in 1900.^[2] English philharmonic appears in 1813, in the name of a London society.^[9]

Timeline

• 1739 – Charles de Brosses uses it as a noun for members of a society of Verona.^[2][3]
• 1765 – The Encyclopédie has société philharmonique.^[3]
• 1797 – Gattel records the adjective.^[2][3]
• 1805 – Société philharmonique is used of a society of music lovers.^[2][3]
• 1813 – English philharmonic is first recorded.^[9]
• 1900 – Colette uses the feminine noun for a philharmonic society.^[2]
• 1938 – Orchestre philharmonique is found in Brasillach.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (dated) Who loves or cultivates music.^[2][6][4]
2. Of a society of amateur musicians: société philharmonique.^[2][6][10]
3. Of certain large orchestras of classical music: orchestre philharmonique.^[2][6][4]

Noun

1. A philharmonic orchestra: le philharmonique de Vienne.^[4][1]
2. (feminine) A philharmonic society.^[2]

Related words

• harmonie
• harmonique
• philharmonie

Usage notes

For a large orchestra one also says la philharmonie.^[4]

References

1. ^ a b c d 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 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c d e Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)