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vue

Etymology and origin of the French word vue

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 1100, Chanson de Roland
Inherited from
Latin video
Ultimate origin
Latin (videō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin video
English video
French vue
French voir
Latin pervideo
Latin provideo
English provide
English provider

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Europe): /vy/[1]
  • IPA (Canada): /vʏ/[1]

Forms

vue f (plural vues)[1] Old French veüe, veuthe, vue from about 1207; the Académie wrote veuë (1694), vûe (1740), vue from 1762.[2][3]

Etymology

It is the feminine past participle of voir used as a noun,[2][3][4][5] the verb being inherited from Latin videō (“to see”).[6] Compare Italian veduta.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Chanson de Roland (about 1100) has L'oïe pert e la veüe tute, he loses his hearing and all his sight.[2][7]

Semantic evolution

Wace (1155) uses it for the range and keenness of sight, and the 13th century for the eyes themselves.[2] By 1225–1250 it was the act of looking (à la vue des hommes, 1585), and, from the 12th century what is seen; in 1461 the sight a thing offers, whence en vue (1552) and, from 1634, a picture of a place (vue d'oiseau, 1678).[2] A vue is also an opening giving light or a view (1438) and the slit of a helmet's visor (1451).[2][7]

In the 17th century it took mental senses: an image in the mind (Montaigne, 1580), a purpose, as in en vue de (Retz, 1665, Mme de Sévigné, 1672), and avoir des vues sur (1679).[2] Phrases include à vue d'œil (Commynes), connaître de vue (1531), payable à vue (1676), garder à vue (1679), seconde vue (1812) and en mettre plein la vue (1916).[7][8][2] In the 20th century it is also a view on the Internet.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 1100 – Veüe “sight” in the Chanson de Roland.[2]
  • 1155 – Range of sight, in Wace.[2]
  • 1438 – An opening in a building.[2]
  • 1461 – A view, prospect.[2]
  • 1531 – Connaître de vue.[8]
  • 1634 – A picture of a place.[2]
  • 1665 – En vue de.[2]
  • 1679 – Garder à vue.[2]
  • 1812 – Seconde vue.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Sight, eyesight: perdre la vue, avoir une bonne vue.[4][1]
  2. Looking, the act of seeing: à la vue de, à première vue, connaître qqn de vue.[4][1]
  3. A view, prospect: une chambre avec vue sur la mer.[4][7]
  4. A picture or photograph of a place: vue de Paris, prise de vue: shot, filming.[2][1]
  5. An idea, opinion: point de vue, vue de l'esprit, (plural) plans: avoir des vues sur.[1][2]
  6. En vue de: with a view to, en vue: prominent.[2][1]
  7. (law) Garde à vue: police custody.[1][2]
  8. (Internet) A view (of a video).[1]

Word family

  • bévue
  • entrevue
  • revue
  • longue-vue

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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 q r s t 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  4. ^ a b c d 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, 425b
  6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  7. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Vue.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/vue. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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