Etymologically
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sensation

Etymology and origin of the French word sensation

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1370, Oresme
Borrowed from
Latin sensatio
Ultimate origin
Latin (sentiō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French sensation
English sensation

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /sɑ̃.sa.sjɔ̃/[1]

Forms

sensation f (plural sensations)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin sēnsātiō (“understanding”) (Irenaeus),[2][3][4][5] formed on “sensum”, the supine of Latin sentiō (“to feel, perceive”) (see sentir and sens).[2][3][6] Bloch and Wartburg note that it was borrowed for a special meaning.[4] The spelling “sensation” replaced Oresme's “sensacion” (Pomey, 1671).[3][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Oresme's translation of Aristotle's Ethics (1370) has sensacion for the impression made by objects on the senses: la sensacion ou operacion est ou resgart de la chose sensible.[2][7]

Semantic evolution

The word seems to have been rare before Malebranche and Bossuet in the second half of the 17th century, when sensation and sentiment were almost synonyms.[3][8] The Académie (1718) has sensation agréable, douloureuse.[2] From 1754 it was a strong impression made on many people, in faire une sensation (1759–1762) and faire sensation (1761–1775), whence à sensation (Lautréamont, 1869) and the press à sensation.[2][3][6]

In everyday speech it is a psychological state with a strong physical component, distinct from sentiment by its immediacy (1784), while psychophysiology gave it a narrower sense in relation to perception (1842).[3] Sensationnel (1837, “sensational”, 1875) was formed after English sensational, and sensass dates from 1889.[3]

Timeline

  • 1370 – Sensacion in Oresme.[2]
  • 1671 – The spelling sensation.[6]
  • 1718 – Sensation agréable, douloureuse in the Académie.[2]
  • 1754 – “A strong impression on others”.[2]
  • 1761 – Faire sensation.[2]
  • 1869 – Écrivain à sensation in Lautréamont.[2]
  • 1875 – Sensationnel “sensational”.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A sensation, perception through the senses: sensation de froid, sensations auditives.[9][10]
  2. A feeling, impression: une sensation de bien-être, avoir la sensation que.[10][9]
  3. Faire sensation: to cause a stir, à sensation: sensational: la presse à sensation.[9][10]
  4. (plural) Thrills: aimer les sensations fortes.[9][11]

Word family

  • sensationnel
  • sensationnel
  • sensationnalisme

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 11, 460b
  6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  10. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  11. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)

Borrowed into

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Sensation.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/sensation. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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