synchroniser

Forms

synchroniser^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned formation from French synchrone + -iser.^[2][3][4][1] The adjective goes back to Late Latin synchronus (“contemporary”), from Ancient Greek σύγχρονος (súnkhronos).^[2][1] The Petit Robert derives the verb from synchronique, and Littré traces it to Ancient Greek συγχρονίζω (sunkhronízō).^[5][6] The English synchronize is recorded from about 1624 and in the cinema sense in 1910; the spread of sound films from America helped to fix the French word.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

In 1865 the Presse scientifique des Deux Mondes uses it for establishing that events took place at the same time.^[2][4] The DHLF dates this sense to 1845.^[7]

Semantic evolution

The first sense died out.^[7] From 1890 the verb meant making clocks, telegraph apparatus and other mechanisms run in step.^[2][7] In the cinema film synchronisé (1909) was a film shown with matching sound, and synchroniser un film (1911) meant matching the soundtrack to the pictures.^[2][7] In the 20th century it spread to the general sense “to make coincide, coordinate”.^[7][5]

Timeline

• 1865 – First record, “to establish that events were contemporary”.^[2]
• 1890 – Used of synchronizing clocks and telegraphs.^[2][3]
• 1909 – Film synchronisé appears.^[2]
• 1911 – Synchroniser un film is recorded.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. (technical) To make synchronous, to make (movements, mechanisms or phenomena) happen at the same rate or moment: synchroniser deux horloges.^[5][2]
2. (cinema) To match the soundtrack with the pictures of (a film).^[5][2]
3. (automobiles) To fit (gears) with a synchromesh; mainly as a past participle.^[2]
4. To make (several actions) take place at the same time, coordinate: Ils ont synchronisé leurs départs.^[5][4]
5. (pronominal) Se synchroniser: to become synchronous.^[2]

Word family

• synchronisation
• désynchroniser

Related words

• synchrone
• synchronisme
• synchronique

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 m n 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert