œuvre French · revision 16642

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=first half of the 12th century, Psautier d'Oxford (ovre)|origins=la opus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /œvʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''œuvre''' ''f'' (plural œuvres)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''ovre'' (about 1120), ''uevre'' (1145), ''euvre'' (1160–74), ''oevre'' (13th century); ''œuvre'' from 1250.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005) The spelling ''oeuvre'' is nonstandard.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|uevre]], [[inh|la|opera|t=work, activity, effort]], the plural of [[m|la|opus|t=work, product of work]] used as a feminine singular since Plautus.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|7, 358b)^(Wiktionary) Rey relates the Latin noun to [[sa|अपस्|tr=ápas|t=work]] and to [[m|la|ops|t=abundance, resources]], from a root used of productive activity.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) The masculine use appeared at the end of the 15th century under the influence of the Latin neuter, and grammarians fixed the present distinctions in the 17th century.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) It is a doublet of [[opéra]] and [[opus]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|opera]], [[oc|obra]], [[es|obra]], [[pt|obra]] and [[ro|operă]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Canticle of Habakkuk in the ''Psautier d'Oxford'' (first half of the 12th century) has ''ovre'' for an object created by someone's work.^(TLFi) The ''Roncevaux'' has ''L'ovre est fete et fenie'' “the work is done and finished”.^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Wace uses it for the act of doing (about 1145) and for a literary work (1160–74); Old French also had ''euvre'' for sexual union (1174–77).^(TLFi) ''Mettre a uevre'' “to put into practice” dates from the early 13th century, ''mettre en œuvre'' from 1409, ''mettre la main à l'œuvre'' from 1559 (Amyot) and ''bois d'œuvre'' “timber” from 1611.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989) In the Church, good works are ''bonnes œuvres'', after Latin ''bona opera'', and an ''œuvre'' is a charitable institution.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ''Œuvres complètes'' is in Voltaire (1776) and ''œuvre d'art'' in Balzac (1831).^(TLFi) The masculine is used for the whole of an artist's work, for building (''gros œuvre'', ''à pied d'œuvre'', 1798) and in alchemy for the ''grand œuvre'', the philosopher's stone (1626, d'Aubigné).^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * First half of the 12th century – ''Ovre'', ''Psautier d'Oxford''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1145 – “Action”, Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * 1160–1174 – A literary work, Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * 1409 – ''Mettre en œuvre''.^(TLFi)

+ * Late 15th century – First masculine uses.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1626 – ''Le grand œuvre'', d'Aubigné.^(TLFi)

+ * 1831 – ''Œuvre d'art'', Balzac.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|work]], something made or done: ''une œuvre d'art'', ''les œuvres de Victor Hugo'', ''œuvres complètes''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Work, activity: ''être à l'œuvre'', ''se mettre à l'œuvre'', ''mettre en œuvre'', to implement.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # A charitable organization, ''bonnes œuvres'', good works.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(masculine)'' The complete works of an artist: ''l'œuvre gravé de Rembrandt''.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(masculine, building)'' ''Le gros œuvre'': the main structure, ''à pied d'œuvre'', on site, ready to start.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(masculine, alchemy)'' ''Le grand œuvre'': the philosopher's stone.^(TLFi)

+ # ''Maître d'œuvre'': project manager, ''main-d'œuvre'', labour, workforce.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[œuvrer]]

+ * [[chef-d'œuvre]]

+ * [[hors-d'œuvre]]

+ * [[désœuvré]]

+ * [[désœuvrement]]

+ * [[main-d'œuvre]]

+ * [[manœuvre]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[opérer]]

+ * [[ouvrer]]

+ * [[ouvrier]]

+ * [[ouvrage]]

+ * [[opéra]]

+ * [[opus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}