direction French · revision 17047

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1338, Guillaume de Digulleville|origins=la regō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /di.ʁɛk.sjɔ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''direction''' ''f'' (plural directions)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|dīrēctiō|t=straight line, (late Latin) a directing]], from the supine “directum” of [[m|la|dīrigō|t=to direct]] (see [[diriger]]), formed on [[m|la|regō|t=to rule, guide]].^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|3, 87a)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Guillaume de Digulleville's ''Fleur de lis'' (1338) uses it for the action of directing or leading; the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert date it from 1327, the GLLF from Oresme (1372).^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Cotgrave (1611) gives “directive, instruction”, and Pascal mocked the casuists' ''direction d'intention'' (1656); before 1704 Bossuet uses it for the office of a spiritual director.^(TLFi)^(BHVF) It became the post of director (1709, Lesage), the director's offices (1752), the services in his charge (1771) and the body of directors (1864).^(TLFi)

+

+ In the sciences it is a line of motion in astronomy and physics (1680), then, from 1757, any orientation, figuratively from 1770.^(TLFi) The motorist's ''direction'', the steering gear, dates from 1907.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1338 – “Directing”, Digulleville.^(TLFi)

+ * 1611 – “Instruction”, Cotgrave.^(TLFi)

+ * 1656 – ''Direction d'intention'', Pascal.^(TLFi)

+ * 1680 – A line of motion, Richelet.^(TLFi)

+ * 1709 – The post of director, Lesage.^(TLFi)

+ * 1757 – “Orientation”, Mirabeau.^(TLFi)

+ * 1907 – Steering gear.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|management]], leadership: ''la direction d'une entreprise'', ''sous la direction de''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The post of director; the management, the directors as a body: ''la direction a décidé…''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A department of an administration: ''direction des impôts''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|direction]], way: ''dans la direction de Paris'', ''changer de direction''.^(Wiktionary)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A direction, tendency.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The [[m|en|steering]] of a vehicle: ''direction assistée''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Spiritual guidance: ''direction de conscience''.^(TLFi)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[directeur]]

+ * [[diriger]]

+ * [[la|dīrēctiō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}