expression French · revision 16886

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1314, Henri de Mondeville, Chirurgie|origins=la premo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɛk.spʁɛ.sjɔ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /ɛk.spʁe.sjɔ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /ɛs.pʁe.sjɔ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''expression''' ''f'' (plural expressions)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|expressiō|t=a pressing out, (Late Latin) expression of thought, vivid description]], derived from [[m|la|expressum]], the supine of [[m|la|exprimō|t=to press out; to express]] (see [[exprimer]]).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873) The Latin verb is formed from [[m|la|ex-]] and [[m|la|premō|t=to press]].^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Henri de Mondeville's ''Chirurgie'' (1314) uses it in medicine for the act of pressing something out;^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) Paré speaks of ''expression des mammelles'' to draw out milk.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The concrete sense survives only as a technical term.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) Froissart (about 1360) has the act of expressing something, and in 1547 it is the manner of expressing oneself; from 1656 (Pascal) it names a turn of phrase in the written or spoken language.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi)

+

+ In the classical period it took further uses: in mathematics, a formula expressing a value (1674); the expression of feelings through art (1669, Molière); and that by which someone or something shows itself (1694, Bossuet).^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) ''Réduire à sa plus simple expression'' is in de Jouy (1812) and Balzac (1834).^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF) In linguistics it is one of the essential functions of signs, opposed to communication, and in semantics it is opposed to content.^(DHLF 1992) [[expressif]] (1483; in its modern sense 1680) and ''liberté d'expression'' belong to the same family.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1314 – “Pressing out”, in Henri de Mondeville.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1360 – The act of expressing, in Froissart.^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 1547 – A manner of expressing oneself.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1656 – A turn of phrase, in Pascal.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1669 – Expression in art, in Molière.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1674 – A mathematical expression, in Malebranche.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1812 – ''Réduire à sa plus simple expression''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|expression|alt=Expression]], the act or manner of expressing a thought or feeling: ''liberté d'expression''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A phrase, turn of phrase, idiom: ''expression figurée'', ''une expression toute faite''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # The look or tone that reveals a feeling.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # Expressiveness in art.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' A formula representing a value: ''expression algébrique'', ''réduire à sa plus simple expression'', to reduce to its simplest form.^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF)

+ # A manifestation, embodiment of something.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(technical)'' The pressing out of a liquid.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[expressif]]

+ * [[inexpressif]]

+ * [[expressivité]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[exprimer]]

+ * [[presser]]

+ * [[la|expressiō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}