visa

Pronunciation

• IPA: /vi.za/^[1]

Forms

visa m (plural visas)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin vīsa (“things seen”), the neuter plural of vīsus, past participle of videō (“to see”),^{[2][3][4][1][5]} a word written on documents that had been checked.^[2][3][4] Littré explains it as short for a phrase with “carta” “paper seen”.^[6] It belongs to the family of voir.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record, in a Chant royal of Guillaume Crétin (1527), is an attestation that a document has been examined, which makes it valid.^[2][7] Bloch and Wartburg and the Grand Robert date it from 1554.^[4][8]

Semantic evolution

For centuries a visa was a formula, seal or signature put on a document to validate it^[2][3][6]; Littré's first example is already an ambassador's visa on a passport.^[2][3][6] The sense “stamp on a passport allowing entry to a country” is the main one from the early 20th century (1912).^[2][3] Figuratively it means an approval (Hugo, 1856), and in law the list of texts cited at the head of a decision (1964).^[3][2]

The verb viser “to stamp with a visa” (1668) is a homonym of viser “to aim”, with which it is now confused.^[3][4]

Timeline

• 1527 – An attestation that makes a document valid (Guillaume Crétin).^[2][7]
• 1554 – Date given by Bloch and Wartburg and the Grand Robert.^[4][8]
• 1668 – The verb viser “to stamp with a visa” (Colbert).^[4][3]
• 1694 – First recorded by the Académie.^[2]
• 1856 – Figurative “approval” (Hugo).^[3]
• 1912 – A stamp on a passport (Gaston Leroux).^[2][3]
• 1964 – The legal texts cited at the head of a decision.^[2][7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A formula, seal or signature put on a document to make it valid or to show that a fee has been paid.^[9][10]
2. A visa, the endorsement on a passport allowing entry to or stay in a country.^[9][10]
3. (public finance) Prior approval of public spending.^[10]
4. (law) The texts cited at the head of a decision or decree.^[7][2]

Related words

• viser
• voir
• Latin videō
• English visa

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 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 14, 536b
6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)