événement French · revision 16790

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=before 1461, Chastellain|origins=la ēveniō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /e.ven.mɑ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /e.vɛn.mɑ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''événement''' ''m'' (plural événements or (archaic) événemens)^(Wiktionary)

+ Also spelled ''évènement'', matching the pronunciation, admitted by the Académie in 1979.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary) The archaic plural ''événemens'' is also found.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned formation on [[la|ēveniō|t=to come out; to turn out; to happen]], a compound of [[m|la|ex-]] and [[m|la|veniō|t=to come]] (see [[venir]]), on the model of [[avènement]], which until the 16th century meant “arrival, event”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(FEW|3, 252a)^(Wiktionary) It replaced Middle French [[m|frm|event]] (15th century), borrowed from [[m|la|ēventus|t=outcome, event]], the source of [[en|event]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Georges Chastellain (before 1461) has it in the broad sense “what happens”;^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Bloch and Wartburg date it to 1507.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the early 16th century it meant “the outcome of a situation”, like ''issue'' and ''succès'', and especially the ending of a play: Molière's ''plus triste événement'' and Boileau's ''Chaque vers, chaque mot court à l'événement''.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007) That classical value survives in phrases such as ''l'événement a confirmé son attente'', ''à tout événement'' “at all events” has gone.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ In its general sense it is a fact of some importance, whence ''heureux événement'' “birth”, ''être dépassé par les événements'' and ''l'événement du jour''.^(DHLF 1992) In the plural it is the course of current affairs, and euphemistically ''les événements d'Algérie'' and ''les événements de mai 68''.^(DHLF 1992) In statistics it is a possible outcome of a random trial.^(DHLF 1992) The derivative [[événementiel]] dates from 1931 or 1953.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 15th century – The older ''event''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * Before 1461 – “What happens”, Chastellain.^(TLFi)

+ * Early 16th century – “Outcome”; the ending of a play.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1931 – [[événementiel]].^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1979 – The spelling ''évènement'' admitted by the Académie.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|event]], something that happens, especially something notable: ''un événement historique'', ''heureux événement'', the birth of a child^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Les événements'': current affairs; euphemistically, troubles, unrest.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(classical)'' The outcome of a situation; the ending of a play.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(probability)'' An event, a possible outcome.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[événementiel]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[avènement]]

+ * [[éventuel]]

+ * [[venir]]

+ * [[en|event]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}