réalisation

Forms

réalisation f (plural réalisations)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French réaliser + -ation.^[2][3][4][1] The verb is formed on réel, from reālis.^[4][5] The first record is dated 1509 by the TLFi, 1508 by the GLLF and Rey, and 1518 by the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert.^{[2][6][4][3][7]}

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears as a legal term in the old customary law of Artois (1509), beside saisine and hypothecque, for the registration of a contract before the lord to secure a mortgage.^[2][8]

Semantic evolution

In law the clause de réalisation (1692) excluded certain property of the spouses from the marital community.^[4][2] In finance and trade the word came to mean selling property or securities to turn them into money (1765).^[4][6]

The sense now current, the action of making something real, appears in 1755.^[2][4] By metonymy a réalisation was then a thing achieved (1853), and the word was specialized in music for the realization of a harmony (1865), and in the cinema for the whole work of making a film (1908).^[4][2] Psychoanalysis (from 1904) and linguistics (1972) gave it further technical senses.^[4]

Timeline

• 1509 – First recorded in the customs of Artois, as a legal term.^[2]
• 1692 – Clause de réalisation appears in marriage law.^[4]
• 1755 – D'Argenson uses it for the action of making something real.^[2][4]
• 1765 – It is used in finance for turning assets into money.^[4]
• 1853 – Baudelaire uses it for a thing achieved.^[2]
• 1875 – Larousse records the musical sense.^[2]
• 1908 – It is used of the making of films.^[2][4]
• 1972 – It becomes a term of linguistics.^[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. The action of making something real or effective, carrying out: la réalisation d'un plan.^[7][2]
2. The fact of coming true, fulfilment: la réalisation d'un rêve d'enfance.^[7][2]
3. A thing achieved, an achievement.^[7][2]
4. (cinema, broadcasting) The direction and making of a film or programme.^[2][1]
5. (music) The writing out of a harmony.^[2][4]
6. (finance) The sale of property or securities to turn them into money, liquidation.^[8][2][1]
7. (law) Clause de réalisation: a clause excluding certain property from the marital community.^[2][4]

Related words

• réaliser
• réalisable
• réalisateur
• réel

References

1. ^ a b c d e 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 r s 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 f g h i j k l m n o Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
6. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette