symbolique

Forms

symbolique (plural symboliques)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin symbolicus (“significant, allegorical”),^[2][3][4] which is from Ancient Greek συμβολικός (sumbolikós, “explaining by a sign, conventional”),^[2][5] from σύμβολον (súmbolon), the source of symbole.^[2][6] Wiktionary instead analyses it as a French formation from the noun with the suffix -ique.^[1] The noun sense “system of symbols” is borrowed from German Symbolik, from the title of Creuzer's work on the symbolism and mythology of the ancient peoples (1810–1812).^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Rabelais first used it in mot symbolique “meaningful word”: the TLFi dates this to 1564 (the Cinquième livre),^[2] the DHLF and the Grand Robert to 1552.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

Monet recorded the sense “being or serving as a symbol” in 1636, and the adjective was then used of what uses symbols (1690), with special uses such as colonne symbolique (1701) and écriture symbolique “pictographic writing” (1755).^[3][2] In the classical period (1689, Bossuet) it also meant relating to the creeds of the faith, as in livres symboliques.^[3][2]

As a feminine noun it named Leibniz's logic of symbols (late 17th century), whence logique symbolique (1904).^[3] Under the German model it came to mean a system of symbols of a people or period and their study (1825).^[2][3] From 1886 the adjective was weakened to mean having no value in itself apart from what it stands for, as in geste symbolique and franc symbolique (1964).^[3][2]

Timeline

• 1552 – Rabelais's mot symbolique, by the DHLF's dating.^[3][4]
• 1564 – Mot symbolique in the Cinquième livre, the TLFi's first record.^[2]
• 1636 – Monet records the sense “serving as a symbol”.^[2]
• 1689 – Bossuet uses it of creeds.^[2]
• 1701 – Colonne symbolique in Furetière.^[2]
• 1755 – Écriture symbolique in the Encyclopédie.^[2]
• 1825 – The noun is used for a system of symbols.^[2]
• 1886 – Bloy uses it for what has no value in itself.^[2]
• 1904 – Logique symbolique is recorded.^[2]
• 1964 – Franc symbolique of damages is recorded.^[2][5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Symbolic: being a symbole or resting on symbols: une figure symbolique.^[7][6]
2. Using images and analogies rather than logic: pensée symbolique, also écriture symbolique “pictographic writing”.^[7]
3. Having no value or effect in itself, only as a sign: geste symbolique, franc symbolique.^[7][3]
4. (logic) Using symbols: logique symbolique.^[7][2]
5. (dated, theology) Relating to the creeds of the faith: livres symboliques.^[5][6]

Noun

1. (feminine) The system of symbols of a religion, people or period, or the study of such symbols.^[2][3]

Related words

• symbole
• symboliser
• symbolisme
• Latin symbolicus

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 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 k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert