réservoir

Forms

réservoir m (plural réservoirs)^[1] 16th-century reservouer.^[2]

Etymology

It is formed from French réserver + -oir.^[3][4][5][1] The verb is from Latin reservō (“to keep back, save up”),^[5][6] from re- and servō (“to keep, preserve”).^[6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record, a document of 1510 on the royal residences on the Loire, uses it for a vessel or basin that holds water.^[3][8]

Semantic evolution

In 1547 Jean Martin's translation of Vitruvius uses it for a place fitted out to store provisions;^[3][5][4] Bloch and Wartburg and the Grand Robert take this as the first date.^[3][5][4] From the mid-16th century it also named a pond or tank where live fish and shellfish are kept (1549),^[8][9] and Littré quotes Loysel: Poissons mis en huches, sauvouers ou reservouers, sont meubles “fish put in troughs, stews or reservoirs are movable goods”.^[2]

By 1601 Charron used it more generally, literally and figuratively, for whatever holds something in store,^[3] and in 1742 it meant a place that is a natural reserve of something.^[3][8] A cavity of the body where a fluid collects is recorded in 1684.^[8] In the 20th century technical language formed many phrases with it, such as réservoir d'air (1932) and the compounds barrage-réservoir and wagon-réservoir (1964).^[8][9]

English took reservoir from French in the 1680s, first in a figurative sense; the sense “artificial basin for storing water” dates from 1705.^[6]

Timeline

• 1510 – First recorded of a basin or vessel for water.^[3][8]
• 1547 – Jean Martin's Vitruvius uses it for a storeroom for provisions.^[3]
• 1549 – Used of a tank for keeping live fish.^[8][9]
• 1601 – Charron uses it for whatever holds something in store.^[3]
• 1680s – English borrows it as reservoir.^[6]
• 1684 – Used of a cavity of the body.^[8]
• 1742 – Louis Racine uses it of a natural reserve.^[3]
• 1875 – It names a crate sunk in water to keep fish alive.^[8]
• 1932 – Réservoir d'air is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A basin, natural or artificial, in which water or another liquid is kept in reserve; an artificial lake.^[10][3]
2. A tank or container that holds liquids or gases, as in a machine or an installation: le réservoir d'une moto.^[10][3][1]
3. A tank or immersed crate where live fish and shellfish are kept.^[10][2]
4. (figurative) A reserve, a place or thing that holds a supply of something: un réservoir de talents.^[10][3]
5. (pathology) An organism that harbours infectious microorganisms: réservoir d'infection.^[10][9]

Related words

• réserver
• réserve
• Latin reservō
• English reservoir

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
10. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert