Retours

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. Acts or instances of coming or sending back; repetitions or returns of events or actions; responses or replies to communication
  2. Occurrences of going back to a place or condition; recurrence of phenomena or activities; answers or feedback to messages or inquiries
  3. Events involving the movement or sending back to an original point; reappearance or recurrence of certain conditions; reactions or replies to previous statements or requests

Etymology: The noun in question, appearing as "retours," is the plural form of the French word "retour," which itself entered English usage in specialized contexts, particularly in legal and historical documents. The root of this word lies in the Old French "retour," meaning a return or going back, which stems from the verb "retourner," composed of the prefix "re-" (meaning "again" or "back") and the verb "tourner" (to turn). This verb traces back to the Latin "tornare," meaning "to turn on a lathe," metaphorically extending to mean to turn or return. Originally, "retour" in English was borrowed from Old French during the Middle Ages, especially in legal contexts where it referred to the formal return of writs or reports in court proceedings. The plural "retours" would be used when discussing multiple such returns or reports. This legal usage persisted in English for several centuries, particularly in the context of English common law, where French legal terminology was often adopted due to the Norman Conquest’s influence. The term carries a sense of something sent back or brought back, which over time also influenced English legal vocabulary, with related words like "return" becoming more common in everyday language. The plural form "retours" itself, however, remains relatively rare in modern English and is generally preserved in historical or legal discourse or when directly referencing French sources. Thus, "retours" exemplifies how English absorbed specialized French legal terminology, preserving the original form and pluralization, revealing layers of linguistic and cultural exchange stemming from medieval law and governance.