Etymograph

English

surrealism

Surrealism comes from French surréalisme, from réalisme ‘realism’, and ultimately from Old French reel.

  1. Old Frenchc. 842–1400reel
  2. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600real
  3. Frenchc. 1600–presentréel‘real’
  4. French, derivedc. 1600–presentréalisme‘realism’
  5. French, derivedc. 1600–presentsurréalisme
  6. Englishtodaysurrealism

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Old Frenchc. 842–1400reel
  2. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600real
  3. Frenchc. 1600–presentréel‘real’
  4. French, derivedc. 1600–presentréalisme‘realism’
  5. French, derivedc. 1600–presentsurréalisme
  6. Englishtodaysurrealism

Equivalent to sur- + realism

Proto-Indo-European *upér ‘over’

Proto-Italic *super ‘above’

Latin super ‘[of place] above’

English sur-

Old French ree

Middle English real

English real

English realism

Linked words

through Old French reel

real, 2 more

through Middle French real

realise, realisation, 2 more

Today it means

noun An artistic movement and an aesthetic philosophy that aims for the liberation of the mind by emphasizing the critical and imaginative powers of the subconscious.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Old French reel / surrealism

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