remarque

Forms

remarque f (plural remarques)^[1] Earlier remerche (about 1505) and remerque (1577).^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is a deverbal noun from French remarquer.^[2][1][5] The present form is the Picard one, which replaced the older remerche (about 1505) and remerque (1577) under the influence of marque.^[2][3] The verb (1549) is itself a Norman-Picard remaking of Middle French remerchier (1376), with an intensive re-.^[3] Littré instead analyses the noun as the prefix added straight to that noun.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

In its present form it is first recorded in 1579, in the royal Ordonnance de Blois, meaning “the act of noticing”.^[2][3] Remerche had the same sense in 1505, and remerque meant “criticism, blame” in 1577.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The active sense “the act of noticing” has disappeared except in digne de remarque “noteworthy” (1609).^[3][2] In the 17th century came the senses “written notes with reflections and comments” (1647, plural remarques) and “an opinion on a point” (1657–1662, faire une remarque, Pascal); the sense “unpleasant comment” goes back to 1577.^[3][2] In the second half of the 17th century the word was used for books on good French usage, such as Vaugelas's Remarques.^[3][5]

In engraving, épreuve avec la remarque (1864) was a proof printed before the artist removed a flaw, and remarque later named a small engraving in the margin of a plate (1944).^[2][3] English remark (1630s) was modelled on the verb remarquer.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 1505 – Remerche “the act of noticing” is recorded.^[2][3]
• 1577 – Remerque “criticism, blame” appears in Jamyn.^[2]
• 1579 – Remarque appears in the Ordonnance de Blois.^[2][3]
• 1609 – Digne de remarque is recorded in Mathurin Régnier.^[2]
• 1647 – Vaugelas uses remarques for written comments.^[2]
• 1657–1662 – Pascal writes faire une remarque.^[2]
• 1864 – Littré records épreuve avec la remarque.^[2]
• 1944 – It names a small engraving in the margin of a plate.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. (dated or literary) The act of noticing something: digne de remarque “noteworthy”, en faire la remarque.^[5][2]
2. A remark, a comment made to draw attention to something: une remarque déplacée, faire une remarque à quelqu'un.^[5][2]
3. A written note or annotation;^[5][2] Remarques, the title of works on usage, such as Vaugelas's.^[5][2]
4. (art) A small engraving in the margin of an engraved plate.^[5][2]

Word family

• remarquiste

Related words

• remarquer
• remarquable
• marque
• English remark

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