prospectus

Forms

prospectus m (invariable)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin prōspectus (“a looking forward, view, outlook”), from prōspiciō (“to look forward, look into the distance”), made of prō (“forward”) and the archaic verb speciō (“to look”).^[2][3][4][5] French had earlier adapted the same Latin word as prospect.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1723, in a regulation of 28 February on the Paris book trade, for an announcement of a book before its publication.^[6][2]

Semantic evolution

At first a booksellers' term, a prospectus set out the plan and description of a work before it appeared, much like a programme; the most famous was the Prospectus of the Encyclopédie.^[2][3] Before the end of the 18th century it also named a document presenting a project, a budget in Necker's speech of 1789 and an invention in 1790.^[6][2] Since 1813 it has named any advertising handbill.^[6][2] English borrowed the word in 1765, from French and directly from Latin.^[7]

Timeline

• 1723 – A book-trade regulation uses it for the announcement of a book.^[6][2][4]
• 1765 – English borrows prospectus.^[7]
• 1789 – Necker uses it of the presentation of a budget.^[6][2]
• 1790 – It is used of the presentation of an invention.^[6]
• 1813 – Jouy uses it for an advertising leaflet.^[6][2]

Meanings

Noun

1. An advertising leaflet, brochure or flyer promoting a shop, business or service: distribuer des prospectus.^[8][6][1]
2. (historical) A printed notice describing the plan, format and price of a book or series before publication.^[8][6][3]
3. (finance) A document presenting a share or bond offer to investors.^[9]

Related words

• prospect
• prospecter
• prospectif
• Latin prōspectus
• English prospectus

Usage notes

The word is invariable: des prospectus.^[1][3]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 9, 467a
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org