piédestal

Forms

piédestal m (plural piédestaux)^[1] Plural piédestaux.^[2][3] Earlier forms: pied d'estrail (once, 15th century), piedestrat (1528), pedestal and pied destal (1526–1537), then piedestal (1545).^[4][5][6]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Italian piedestallo, also piedistallo (recorded since the first half of the 15th century), an architectural term for the base supporting a column, a statue or a vase.^[5][4][7][1] The Italian word is a compound of piede (“foot”) and stallo (“stay, abode”), which took the sense of support only in this compound.^[5][4][7] The second element is of Germanic origin, from the same word as French étal;^[5][4][2] the GLLF traces it to Frankish *stal (“position, abode”).^[3] The first is from Latin pēs (“foot”).^[3]

The word was at first distorted in French, as pied d'estrail and piedestrat, before it settled as pedestal and then the modern form.^[4][6] Littré read it instead as pied, de and Old French estal (“support”), comparing the Italian word.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record is a single 15th-century pied d'estrail, in a description of a staircase with its pedestals, bases and capitals.^[8][4][3] The forms pedestal and pied destal then appear in the anonymous translation (1526–1537) of a Spanish treatise by Diego de Sagredo, for the support of a column, vase or statue.^[5]

Semantic evolution

The word has kept the Italian architectural sense, the support of a column, statue or ornament.^[4][5] From 1762 (Diderot) it was used figuratively for whatever raises a person up to public admiration,^[3][4] and Madame de Staël has placer sur un piédestal in 1784.^[5] The figurative sense lives mainly in the phrases mettre quelqu'un sur un piédestal, to idealize someone, and tomber de son piédestal, to lose one's prestige.^[4][2][9]

The English word pedestal was borrowed from French in the 1560s; its spelling was influenced by Latin, and its figurative use “put on a pedestal” is attested by 1859.^[10]

Timeline

• 15th century – Piedz-d'estrailz in a description of a staircase.^[8][4]
• 1526–1537 – Pedestal and pied destal in the translation of Diego de Sagredo.^[5]
• 1528 – The form piedestrat is recorded.^[4][6]
• 1542 – Rabelais writes pedestal.^[3][7]
• 1545 – Piedestal in Jean Martin's translation of Serlio.^[5][11]
• 1560s – English borrows the word as pedestal.^[10]
• 1762 – Diderot uses it figuratively.^[3][4]
• 1784 – Madame de Staël writes of placing someone on a pedestal.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A raised support on which a column, a statue or an ornament such as a vase stands; a pedestal.^[2][5][9]
2. (figurative) Whatever raises a person up and holds them out to admiration, a position of prestige.^[2][5] Le succès de son premier roman l'a placé sur un piédestal.^[2]
3. Mettre quelqu'un sur un piédestal: to idealize someone, to admire them greatly.^[9][2]
4. Tomber de son piédestal: to lose one's prestige.^[9][2]

Related words

• pied
• étal
• piédouche
• Italian piedestallo
• English pedestal

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ 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
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ 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
6. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
11. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF