épithète

Forms

épithète f (plural épithètes)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin epitheton, a grammarians' term,^[2][3][4][5] which is from Ancient Greek ἐπίθετον (epítheton, “adjective, thing added”), the neuter of ἐπίθετος (epíthetos, “added”),^[2][3][1] from ἐπιτίθημι (epitíthēmi, “to put on, add”), from ἐπι- (epi-, “on”) and τίθημι (títhēmi, “to put, place”).^[5][6][1] Rey traces the base to the Indo-European root Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- (“to put”), which is also behind Latin faciō and so French faire.^[3][1] Littré notes that Latin adiectīvus is a parallel formation.^[7]

The word was masculine until the 17th century.^[3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1517, in Bouchet’s Chapelet des princes, for what is added to a noun or pronoun to qualify it.^[2][3][6]

Semantic evolution

Already in the 16th century the sense widened to a laudatory or insulting name given to someone.^[3][4] Du Bellay complained that most of the epithets of the French poets were cold or idle.^[7]

In grammar, the noun was turned into an adjective in 1901 (l'adjectif épithète), for an adjective joined directly to its noun, as opposed to an attribut.^[2][3]

Timeline

• 1517 – Bouchet uses it in the Chapelet des princes.^[2][6]
• 16th century – Du Bellay writes of the epithetes of French poets.^[7]
• 17th century – The word becomes feminine.^[3][5]
• 1864 – The derivative épithétique appears.^[3]
• 1901 – The Nouveau Larousse illustré records l'adjectif épithète.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A word or phrase, usually an adjective, added to a noun to qualify it, an epithet.^[8][2][6]
2. Épithète de nature: an epithet expressing a permanent quality, such as the épithète homérique.^[6]
3. A complimentary or insulting name applied to someone.^[8][3]
4. (grammar) An attributive adjective, joined to the noun without a verb (opposed to attribut): adjectif épithète, or simply une épithète.^[8][2][1]

Word family

• épithétique

Related words

• Ancient Greek ἐπίθετον (epítheton)

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert