température

Forms

température f (plural températures)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin temperātūra (“well-balanced composition, physical constitution, temperature”), borrowed in 1538.^[2][3][4] The Latin noun is derived from temperō (“to mix in due proportion, moderate”),^[3][4][5] the verb behind French tempérer.^[3][6] Littré compares Old Occitan tempradura, Spanish templadura and Italian temperatura.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Robert Estienne's dictionary of 1538 gives it in the sense “the physical constitution proper to a living body”.^[2][5] Rabelais used it more widely for “composition, constitution”.^[3]

Semantic evolution

The senses of “constitution” were dropped after the 17th century, partly in favour of tempérament.^[3][4] Ambroise Paré still spoke of the temperatures of the parts of the body, of ages and of humours.^[7]

The sense “degree of heat” is found in 1547 in Jean Martin's translation of Vitruvius,^[2] and Montaigne wrote of la chaulde temperature de l'air, “the warm temperature of the air”.^[7] It came to prevail, and since 1789 it has also meant the degree of heat in a place or in a living body;^[3] the TLFi dates the sense “body heat” to 1830.^[2] Avoir de la température, “to have a fever”, is first found in Proust in 1920, and faire de la température in 1928.^[2][3]

Figuratively the word has described a state of mind or a situation since 1777–1783, when Linguet wrote of la température politique des États-Unis;^[2][3] prendre la température of an assembly, a metaphor from medicine, dates from 1926.^[2][3] Rey notes that the word is no longer felt as connected to tempérer and tempérament, and that it forms many scientific terms such as température absolue (1819).^[3]

Timeline

• 1538 – Robert Estienne records it for the physical constitution of a body.^[2][5]
• 1547 – First used for a degree of heat, in Jean Martin's Vitruvius.^[2][3]
• 1562 – Du Pinet uses it for the heat or cold of the air.^[5]
• 1777–1783 – Linguet uses it figuratively of the political mood of the United States.^[2]
• 1789 – It names the degree of heat of a place or of a body.^[3]
• 1819 – Température absolue is recorded.^[3]
• 1920 – Avoir de la température “to have a fever” appears in Proust.^[2]
• 1926 – Prendre la température of an assembly is recorded.^[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. The degree of heat or cold of the atmosphere in a place, as measured by a thermomètre: la température a monté de cinq degrés.^[8][7]
2. The degree of heat of a substance or object: la température de l'eau.^[8]
3. Body heat, especially above normal: avoir de la température, to have a fever.^[8][2]
4. (figurative) Prendre la température de: to sound out the mood of a group or an assembly.^[8][3]
5. (physics) The quantity expressing the kinetic energy of the agitation of the particles of a body.^[2][8]
6. (Canada, familiar) The weather.^[8]
7. (obsolete) Physical constitution, tempérament.^[5][7]

Related words

• tempérer
• tempérament
• Latin temperātūra

References

1. ^ a b 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 c d e f g h i j k l m n o Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert