violoniste

Forms

violoniste m or f by sense (plural violonistes)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French violon + -iste.^{[2][1][3][4][5]}

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1811, in Gouriet's Personnages célèbres dans les rues de Paris, for a violin player.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

The word spread in the 1820s: it is found in Castil-Blaze in 1821 and in Boiste's dictionary in 1823, and the Académie took it in 1835.^[6][3][7] It is the most common derivative of violon, which can also name the player, but the two are used differently: les violons of an orchestra, le premier violon, but un grand violoniste.^[8] The English word violinist was not taken from French: it comes from Italian.^[9]

Timeline

• 1811 – First recorded, in Gouriet.^[2][6]
• 1821 – Used by Castil-Blaze.^[6][3]
• 1823 – Entered in Boiste's dictionary.^[7][6]
• 1835 – Admitted by the Académie.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. A violinist, a musician who plays the violon, as in Une violoniste de renom.^[2][4][1]
2. In apposition: compositeur violoniste, a composer who is also a violinist.^[2]

Related words

• violon
• violoncelliste
• viole

Usage notes

Littré notes that violiniste was also said.^[10]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 14, 368b
6. ^ a b c d e f Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
7. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette