Etymologically
Log in

visa

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 18:22. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

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]

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)