The Dictionnaire de la langue française, a monumental lexicographical undertaking, reached completion in 1873 after three decades of sustained labor. Its primary architect, Émile Littré, managed a vast archival project that utilized over 400,000 sheets of draft material, fundamentally reshaping the understanding of the French language through rigorous historical analysis and precise usage documentation.
Formative Years and Academic Training
Born in 1801 within the former 11th arrondissement of Paris, Littré attended the Lycée Louis-le-Grand before entering the Paris Medical Faculty in 1822. Despite successfully navigating his medical examinations, he discontinued his path toward a doctorate in 1827 following the death of his father to provide financial support for his mother. This transition shifted his focus toward philology and classical studies.
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Littré’s intellectual career was significantly influenced by the philosophy of Auguste Comte. As a proponent of positivism, he spent years translating and publishing the works of Hippocrates, which appeared beginning in 1839. His editorial contributions to the Revue des deux mondes and Le National established his reputation as a versatile writer, eventually leading him to examine the intersection of history, philosophy, and linguistics.
Political Engagement and Institutional Roles
The collapse of the Second Empire prompted Littré to enter formal politics. He served in the French National Assembly between 1871 and 1876 and later became an irremovable senator from 1875 until his death in 1881. His professional standing was bolstered by memberships in numerous prestigious institutions, including the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, the Académie Nationale de Médecine, and the Académie française, the latter of which he joined in 1871.
Legacy and Final Years
Littré resided on the rue d'Assas until his passing in 1881. He was buried at the Montparnasse Cemetery. His body of work, ranging from lexicography to political commentary, reflected a commitment to materialist philosophy. Even in his final years, he maintained his scholarly output, documenting his evolving perspectives on positivist doctrine while defending his belief in the philosophy of Materialism.
Fast facts
- Born: 1801, Paris
- Died: 1881, rue d'Assas
- Primary Work: Dictionnaire de la langue française
- Political Roles: Member of the French National Assembly, Irremovable Senator
- Academy Membership: Académie française, Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
- Citizenship: France
- Movement: Positivism
- Burial Site: Montparnasse Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was the scale of the Dictionnaire de la langue française?
The project took nearly 30 years to complete, with drafts spanning 415,636 individual sheets stored in eight wooden crates.
Did Littré accept all of Auguste Comte's ideas?
No, while he defended the positivist philosophical method, he rejected the religious elements and dogmas associated with Comte's later work.
Achievements
- Notable work: Dictionnaire de la langue française
- Fields: philosophy, positivism and history
