spécialiser

Forms

spécialiser^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French spécial + -iser.^[2][1][3][4] The adjective is a learned word, from Latin speciālis (“relating to a species, particular”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded about 1535, as an intransitive verb meaning “to state precisely”, in Georges de Selve's translation of Plutarch's Lives; this is an isolated record.^[2][6][7]

Semantic evolution

After the isolated record of about 1535 the verb reappears in Boiste's dictionary in 1819, meaning “to point out or designate specially”, and in 1823 as the reflexive se spécialiser “to be designated in a particular way”; both senses have since gone out of use.^[2][7][6] Bloch and Wartburg date its establishment to 1823.^[5]

The modern sense “to give a definite, restricted use to” is found in Auguste Comte in 1826,^[2] or from 1835 according to Rey,^[7] and the reflexive was used for a person who confines himself to one branch of study or research from 1843, in Balzac.^[2] Rey and the GLLF date this reflexive sense from Huysmans (1891).^[7][6] The derivatives spécialisation (1825, Comte) and spécialisé (before 1931) became common with the growth of the sciences and techniques.^[7]

English specialize (1610s) was formed from special, perhaps on the model of the French verb.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 1535 – Georges de Selve uses it once for “to state precisely”.^[2]
• 1819 – Boiste records it as “to point out specially”.^[2][6]
• 1823 – Boiste records the reflexive se spécialiser.^[2][6]
• 1825 – The noun spécialisation appears, in Auguste Comte.^[7]
• 1826 – Comte uses it for “to give a definite, restricted use to”.^[2]
• 1843 – Balzac uses se spécialiser for confining oneself to one branch of study.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. (transitive) To make a person or thing fit for a definite, restricted use or task, to specialize: spécialiser des techniciens dans l'électronique.^[2][4][6]
2. (reflexive, se spécialiser) To be confined to a special, restricted use.^[4]
3. (reflexive, se spécialiser dans) To acquire thorough knowledge of one field, to adopt a spécialité: Il s'est spécialisé dans la chimie.^[4][6][1]
4. (obsolete) To point out or designate specially.^[2][9][7]

Word family

• spécialisation
• spécialisé

Related words

• spécial
• spécialité
• spécialiste
• Latin speciālis

References

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