Etymologically
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recherche

Etymology and origin of the French word recherche

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Back-formation
First attested
1452
Ultimate origin
Latin (circus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ʁə.ʃɛʁʃ/[1]

Forms

recherche f (plural recherches)[1]

Etymology

It is a deverbal noun from rechercher.[2][3][4][1] That verb is formed with re- on chercher, at first cercier (1080), cerchier, from Late Latin circō (“to go round, survey”), from circā (“around”), from circus (“circle”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

A royal ordinance of 1452 uses it for a search, a careful seeking, Jean d'Auton (about 1500) has the same sense.[2][6]

Semantic evolution

Malherbe uses it for courting a woman (1607) and for legal proceedings (1629); the Académie (1694) has faire agréer sa recherche.[2][4] Montaigne (1580) uses it for affected care in literature: Les bons poetes ont evité l'affectation et la recherche.[2][7]

Bourdaloue (before 1704) uses it for seeking knowledge, and, from the early 18th century it specialized in the sciences; the plural recherches “scholarly and scientific work” dates from 1815 (Constant), and à la recherche de from 1797.[2][5] In the 20th century research became an institution, with recherche fondamentale and appliquée and the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (1941).[5][4] Computing has moteur de recherche “search engine”.[1]

Timeline

  • 1452 – “Careful search”.[2]
  • 1580 – “Affectation” in style, Montaigne.[2]
  • 1607 – “Courtship”, Malherbe.[2]
  • Before 1704 – The search for knowledge, Bourdaloue.[2]
  • 1797 – À la recherche de.[2]
  • 1815 – Recherches “scholarly work”, Constant.[2]
  • 1941 – The CNRS is founded.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A search: la recherche d'un emploi, partir à la recherche de, avis de recherche.[6][1]
  2. research: faire de la recherche, recherche scientifique, un centre de recherche.[5][1]
  3. (plural) Research work, investigations: faire des recherches.[2][6]
  4. Pursuit: la recherche du bonheur.[2][6]
  5. Refinement, (pejorative) affectation, especially in style.[2][4]
  6. (dated) Courtship.[4]

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 j k l m n 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
Cite this entry

“Recherche.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/recherche. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·