redistribuer

Forms

redistribuer^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French re- + distribuer.^{[2][1][3][4][5]} Distribuer is from Latin distribuō.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi's first record is Cotgrave's dictionary of 1611, which glosses redistribuer as “to redistribute, or deale backe againe”.^[2][7] The Robert dictionaries, the GLLF and Rey date it from Furetière (1690), and Bloch and Wartburg from Turgot in the 18th century.^[3][4][8][6]

Semantic evolution

For a long time the verb only meant “to distribute again”, the sense Littré gives.^[9][4] In the 20th century it took on an economic sense, “to share out according to a new and, as a rule, fairer scheme”.^[2][4][10] Its family includes redistribution (also 1690) and the more technical redistributeur (1946 according to Rey, 1958 in the TLFi).^[8][2]

Timeline

• 1611 – Cotgrave records the verb.^[2][7]
• 1690 – Furetière has redistribuer and redistribution.^[4][8][3]
• 18th century – Turgot uses it.^[6]
• 1958 – Redistributeur is recorded, in the TLFi.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To distribute again, a second time.^[2][10][9]
2. (economics) To share out again according to a new, usually fairer, plan, as wealth or incomes.^[2][4][10]

Word family

• redistribution
• redistributeur
• redistributif

Related words

• distribuer
• distribution

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 c 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. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 100a
6. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b Cotgrave, Randle (1611), A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues, London: Adam Islip
8. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
10. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert