préhistorique

Forms

préhistorique (plural préhistoriques)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French pré- + historique.^[2][3][4][5] The TLFi notes that English prehistoric, of the same meaning, is recorded from 1851,^[2] and Wiktionary takes the French word as a borrowing of it.^[1] The base adjective is from Latin historicus, from ἱστορικός (historikós).^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi's first record is from 1865, in a review of John Lubbock's Pre-historic times in the Matériaux pour l'histoire de l'homme.^[2] The Grand Robert has it a year earlier, in the title of a work by Lartet and Christy on engraved and carved objects of prehistoric times (1864), and notes that Boucher de Perthes had spoken instead of antiquités antédiluviennes.^[3]

Semantic evolution

The adjective first meant “earlier than history”, of the times before written records and the use of metals.^[2][5][7] The noun préhistoire was formed from it in 1872, and préhistorien “prehistorian” is recorded in 1874.^[8] From the late 19th century it also meant “relating to prehistory” (Maupassant, before 1890), and in the early 20th century it was first used jokingly of anything old-fashioned (Loti, 1903).^[7]

Timeline

• 1865 – First recorded, in a review of Lubbock's Pre-historic times.^[2][4]
• 1869 – Littré records it.^[7][6]
• 1872 – The noun préhistoire is formed from it.^[8]
• before 1890 – Maupassant uses it in the sense “relating to prehistory”.^[7]
• 1903 – Loti uses it of something outdated.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Earlier than written records and the use of metals: les temps préhistoriques.^[4][2]
2. Relating to prehistory or to the people, animals and plants of that time: une grotte préhistorique, des outils préhistoriques.^[4][2]
3. (familiar, humorous) Very old, antiquated, out of fashion: Mon grand-père roule encore dans une voiture préhistorique.^[4][7][1]

Related words

• préhistoire
• préhistorien
• histoire
• historique
• protohistorique
• English prehistoric

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 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 Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert