élément French · revision 17592

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=881, Sequence of Saint Eulalia}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /e.le.mɑ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''élément''' ''m'' (plural éléments)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a very early borrowing [[bor|la|elementum]], “one of the four elements”, used mostly in the plural for first principles, rudiments, and the letters of the alphabet.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) The Grand Robert thinks its first sense in Latin was “letter of the alphabet”, as in Lucretius.^(Grand Robert 2005) The origin of the Latin word is unknown.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Sequence of Saint Eulalia'' (881) has ''Ell' en adunet lo suon element'', where it means the principles or soul of the person, her faith.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Philippe de Thaon in 1119 uses it for the substance of the universe in its four forms, earth, water, air and fire, after the Greek and Latin model.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) About 1200 it meant a part of a whole, and in the plural the first principles of a science, later a book setting them out.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) About 1450 ''les éléments'' were the forces of nature (''faison tonner les elemens''), and Montaigne in 1588 uses it for the natural medium of a creature, whence ''être dans son élément'', to be in one's element.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Modern chemistry named its simple substances ''éléments''.^(Littré 1873) In physics it is found in 1758 for an infinitely small part of a quantity.^(BHVF)^(DHLF 1992) From 1860 it has also meant a member of a group, as in ''un bon, un mauvais élément''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 881 – In the ''Sequence of Saint Eulalia''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1119 – The four elements, in Philippe de Thaon.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1200 – “Part of a whole”.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1450 – ''Les éléments'', the forces of nature.^(TLFi)

+ * 1588 – A creature's natural medium, in Montaigne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1758 – An infinitesimal element, in physics.^(BHVF)

+ * 1860 – A member of a group.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Each of the parts whose combination makes up a thing; a [[m|en|component]]: ''les éléments d'un ensemble'', ''tous les éléments du problème''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ # ''(in the plural)'' The first principles of a science or art; [[m|en|rudiments]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873)

+ # ''(ancient philosophy)'' Each of the four elements: earth, water, air and fire.^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873)

+ # ''Les éléments'': the forces of nature, the weather and the sea: ''l'armée avait les éléments à combattre''.^(Littré 1873)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # The natural medium of a living being, ''être dans son élément'', to be in one's element.^(GLLF 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(chemistry)'' A chemical [[m|en|element]].^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873)

+ # A person regarded as a member of a group: ''un bon'', ''un mauvais élément''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[élémentaire]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|elementum]]

+ * [[en|element]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}