The term cadre (referring to a small group of individuals, often with a common political goal) originates from the French word cadre, meaning “framework”. Initially denoting an “organizational framework”, especially within military contexts, it later extended to encompass various organized groups, ranging from communists to scientists. Interestingly, the original French pronunciation did not include the final e, but Americans adopted it assuming an Italian or Spanish origin, where final vowels are pronounced. Tracing its roots further back, it can be linked to the Italian term quadro, signifying “square” (linked to the concept of military formation). This can be traced to the Latin quadrum, connected to the word for “four”, quattuor. Ultimately, these origins can be traced to the Proto-Indo-European term kweter, meaning “four” (also contributing to words like quarrel, squad, and farthing).
