rendezvous
/ˈrɒndɪvuː/
noun
Origin
French
rendez-vous — present yourselves / go to the meeting place
Overview
Meaning Now
- A meeting at an agreed time and place.
- A place appointed for assembling or meeting.
- A secret meeting between lovers.
Literal older meaning
render yourselves
Language path
Old French → Middle French → French → English
Earliest form
rendez-vous
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term originated as a military command in 16th-century French, instructing troops to gather at a specific location ('rendez-vous' meaning literally 'present yourselves'). Over time, the term migrated into general English usage, shedding its strictly martial connotation for more social or casual meanings.
Evolution
- 15th century French
rendez-vous
“an order to assemble at a designated place”
Imperative of 'se rendre'
- 16th century English
rendezvous
“a military assembly point”
Direct loanword from French
- 19th century English
rendezvous
“a social meeting”
Semantic generalization
Connections
Word parts
rendez
root
render/present (imperative plural)
vous
root
yourselves
Related across languages
French
rendez-vous
meeting, appointment
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Related to rendezvous
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.