urbaniser

Forms

urbaniser^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned derivative from French urbain + -iser.^[2][3][1] Rey, the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert derive it directly from Latin urbanus (“of the city, urbane”).^[4][5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Restif de La Bretonne used it in 1785 in the sense “to give urbanity to someone”, that is, to make a person polite and refined.^[2][3] The Grand Robert and Rey date this use to 1783.^[5][4]

Semantic evolution

The sense of polishing a person's manners went out of use.^[4][3] In 1873 Edmond About wrote of “urbanizing” the surroundings, habits and work of the countryman, giving them the character of the town;^[2][7][3] Littré took the sense into his Supplement.^[2][7][3] This sense spread in the 20th century with the movement from the countryside to the towns.^[4]

The reflexive s'urbaniser, of a population concentrating in towns, is found in 1924, and the sense “to turn an area into town” in 1941.^[2] The administrative zone à urbaniser en priorité was created by a decree of 1958.^[2] The noun urbanisation was derived from the verb.^[4]

Timeline

• 1785 – Restif de La Bretonne uses it for making someone urbane.^[2][3]
• 1801 – Mercier lists it in his Néologie.^[2]
• 1873 – About uses it for giving the countryside the character of the town.^[2][3]
• 1924 – The reflexive s'urbaniser is used of a population moving into towns.^[2]
• 1941 – It is used for turning an area into a town.^[2]
• 1958 – A decree creates the zone à urbaniser en priorité.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To urbanize: to turn an area into town, giving it buildings and the facilities of a city.^[2][6][3]
2. (dated) To give the character of town life to people or a place.^[2][3]
3. S'urbaniser: to become urban, of a region or a population concentrating in towns.^[2][3]
4. (obsolete) To make someone urbane, polite.^[2][4]

Word family

• urbanisation

Related words

• urbain
• urbanisme
• Latin urbanus

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