Etymologically
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théâtre

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Paris): /te.ɑtʁ/[1]
  • IPA (Belgium, Switzerland): [teˈaːtʁ̥][1]
  • IPA: [te.ˈɑːtʁ̥][1]
  • IPA (Quebec, nonstandard): [teˈɑu̯tʁ̥][1]

Forms

théâtre m (plural théâtres)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin theātrum (“theatre; audience; stage”),[2][3][4][5] from Ancient Greek θέατρον (théatron, “place for viewing”), from θεάομαι (theáomai, “to watch, contemplate”), from θέα (théa, “a looking at; sight, spectacle”).[1][6][3] Rey relates the Greek noun to θαῦμα (thaûma, “wonder”), as in thaumaturge.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the Roman de Thèbes (mid-12th century) for a place where a single combat is fought before spectators.[6][3]

Semantic evolution

In the Faits des Romains (1213) it is the Roman amphitheatre where public shows were held.[2][3] With the spread of secular plays beside the Christian mysteries it was applied to the hall where they were given (about 1370, Oresme) and to the building (end of the 14th century, Eustache Deschamps).[3][6] From 1549 it was also a raised platform for a public ceremony, a sense tied to open-air performances on trestles.[3]

The birth of modern tragedy in 16th-century France multiplied its uses: the dramatic works of an author or a nation (1561, Jacques Grévin), dramatic poetry (1573), the performance (1636), and, from 1693 the company that puts on plays.[3][2] D'Aubignac (1657) uses it for the art of writing and acting plays.[3] Pièce de théâtre dates from before 1650 and coup de théâtre from 1743, first on the stage and soon in life.[3][2] Figuratively it has meant “artificial attitude” since 1660, a sense kept in de théâtre.[3] By analogy it named garden terraces such as the théâtre d'eau (1671), an anatomy theatre (1691) and, in the navy, the forecastle (1690).[3]

Timeline

  • Mid-12th century – In the Roman de Thèbes.[6]
  • 1213 – The Roman amphitheatre.[2]
  • c. 1370 – A hall for plays, in Oresme.[6]
  • 1381–1389 – A building for shows, in Eustache Deschamps.[2]
  • 1561 – The dramatic works of an author.[2]
  • 1657 – The art of drama, in d'Aubignac.[3]
  • 1660 – “Artificial attitude”.[3]
  • 1671 – Théâtre d'eau.[2]
  • 1743 – Coup de théâtre.[2]
  • 1949 – Cocteau's Théâtre de poche.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A theatre, a building or hall where plays and shows are performed: aller au théâtre.[7][1]
  2. The dramatic art, drama as a genre: faire du théâtre, pièce de théâtre, a play.[3][1]
  3. The dramatic works of an author, a period or a nation: le théâtre de Racine.[3][2]
  4. Coup de théâtre: a dramatic turn of events.[2][1]
  5. (figurative) The place where an important event happens, the scene.[2][8]
  6. (figurative) Affectation, playacting: de théâtre.[3]
  7. (Missouri, Louisiana) A cinema.[1]

Word family

  • théâtreux
  • théâtrophone
  • théâtral
  • amphithéâtre

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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 p q Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 13/1, 299b
  6. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette