réplique

Forms

réplique f (plural répliques)^[1]

Etymology

It is a deverbal noun from French répliquer (“to reply”).^{[2][3][4][5][1]} The verb, recorded from 1226 or the 13th century, is borrowed from Latin replicō (“to fold back, unroll, in Late Latin law to reply”), formed from re- and plicō (“to fold”).^[6][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record, in Guillaume Guiart's Royaux lignages (1306), has the sense “explanation, act of answering”.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Beside the senses of the verb (a reply refuting what was said or written, then from the early 15th century a quick or impertinent retort), réplique gained the sense “objection” at the end of the 15th century; the phrase sans réplique is recorded from 1775 (Beaumarchais).^[6][2][4] In law it is the plaintiff's answer to the defence.^[2][7]

In the theatre it named, from 1646, the part of a dialogue an actor says when the other stops speaking, then the cue, an actor's last words (1798).^[6][4] Manquer sa réplique is recorded before 1799 and donner la réplique in 1803, the latter passing into ordinary conversation by 1844 (Balzac).^[6][4]

From the older senses of répliquer, “to repeat, double”, réplique meant “reproduction” about 1480; in 19th-century art it came to mean a repetition of a work by its own artist (1875), then any work close to its original, and a person who seems another's double.^[6] In music it named the repetition of a note at the octave (1690) and the return of the subject in a fugue (1703).^[6][2] It is also used of an aftershock after an earthquake.^[6][1]

Timeline

• 1306 – Guillaume Guiart uses it for “explanation, answer”.^[2]
• late 15th century – Jean Molinet uses it for “objection”.^[2]
• c. 1480 – Recorded for “reproduction”.^[6]
• 1646 – Rotrou uses it for an actor's line.^[4][6]
• 1703 – Brossard records the musical sense.^[2]
• 1775 – Sans réplique appears in Beaumarchais.^[4][6]
• 1803 – Donner la réplique is recorded.^[6][4]
• 1875 – Used for a copy of a work of art made by its artist.^[6][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A retort, a quick reply showing disagreement; an objection: des arguments sans réplique.^[8][9]
2. (law) The plaintiff's answer to the arguments of the defence.^[2][7]
3. (theatre) An actor's line, or the cue for the next one: la comédienne a hésité sur sa réplique.^[9][8] Donner la réplique (à quelqu'un): to read a part so that another can say theirs, also to answer back.^[9][6]
4. (art) A replica, a copy of a work made in the manner of the original; by extension, a person or thing that resembles another closely.^[9][6][1]
5. (seismology) An aftershock.^[6][1]

Related words

• répliquer
• replier
• plier
• Latin replicō

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ 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
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)