répertoire

Forms

répertoire m (plural répertoires)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin repertōrium (“inventory”), a legal term of Late Latin, from repertum, the supine of reperiō (“to find again, discover”).^[2][3][4][5] The verb, a literary word that had dropped out of everyday use, is formed from re- and pariō (“to procure, bring forth”).^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded at the end of the 14th century in Eustache Deschamps, in Repertoire de Science, an allegorical figure of complete and orderly knowledge.^[6][2][5]

Semantic evolution

In 1458 (Gréban) it meant the whole of handed-down knowledge, before encyclopédie existed; from 1468 it also meant a table or collection in which matters are arranged so as to be found easily.^[6][2] It was applied figuratively to a person with a well-stocked memory who can be consulted at any time, a sense that has given way to encyclopédie.^[2][4]

In the 18th century it became a theatre word: in Voltaire (1769) the list of plays to be performed in the week, then (1798) the stock of plays a theatre or company keeps on its bill; by extension the roles an actor has learned (1872–1875), the works a musician or singer performs (1875) and everything an artist can do on stage (1887).^[6][2][3] From the first sense come the stock of words and turns of phrase a person commands (1825–1826), the title of reference books in alphabetical order (1835) and an address book with alphabetical tabs (1875).^[6][2] In law it is the register in which notaries record their acts (1804), and répertoire des métiers (1962) is the register of craftsmen kept by each chamber of trades.^[6][2][4]

English repertoire is recorded from 1847 for the stock of works a performer is ready to perform, from the French word.^[7]

Timeline

• Late 14th century – Eustache Deschamps uses Repertoire de Science for an allegorical figure.^[6][2]
• 1458 – Gréban uses it for the whole of handed-down knowledge.^[6][2]
• 1468 – It means an orderly inventory or table.^[6][2]
• 1769 – Voltaire uses it for the list of plays to be performed in the week.^[6][2]
• 1798 – The Académie records the stock of plays a theatre performs.^[6][2]
• 1804 – The Civil Code mentions the notary's répertoire.^[6]
• 1825 – Brillat-Savarin speaks of his répertoire of words.^[6]
• 1847 – English repertoire is recorded.^[7]
• 1875 – Larousse records the address book and a musician's or singer's list of works.^[6][2]
• 1904 – The verb répertorier is formed.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A methodical list, table or index in which items are arranged so that they can be found easily: un répertoire alphabétique des auteurs.^[8][6][4]
2. A notebook or address book with alphabetical tabs.^[8][2]
3. (computing) A directory, a folder in a file system.^[8][1]
4. (law) The register in which notaries and some other officials record their acts.^[4][6]
5. The stock of works a theatre, company or performer has ready to perform, a repertoire: cette pièce est entrée au répertoire.^[8][6][2]
6. The range of words, gestures or ways of acting a person has at their disposal.^[6][2]
7. (figurative, dated) A person with a well-stocked memory who can always inform others.^[4][2]

Word family

• répertorier

Related words

• Latin repertōrium
• English repertoire
• English repertory

References

1. ^ a b c 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b 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 Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ 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
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert