Etymologically
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vue

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 21:19. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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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