équanimité

Forms

équanimité f (plural équanimités)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin aequanimitās (“good will, evenness of mind”), borrowed in 1572 by Amyot.^[2][3][4] The Latin noun is formed from aequus (“equal, level”) and animus (“mind, spirit”) (or anima (“soul”)).^[3][5][6] Littré derives it through the adjective aequanimus (“even-tempered”), which French also borrowed as équanime.^[7][3]

It is related to égal, équitable and âme.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Amyot uses it in 1572, in De la tranquillité de l'âme et repos de l'esprit, for the calm, even temper of the soul: Cela donc est une de ces choses qui trouble l'equanimité et tranquillité d'esprit (“this, then, is one of the things that disturb the evenness and tranquillity of the mind”).^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

The word kept the Latin sense of evenness of soul, but it was hardly used in the classical period of the 17th and 18th centuries.^[3][5] It was taken up again in the 19th century: Boiste's dictionary records it in 1819 in the sense “impartiality”.^[3][5] Littré still called it little used,^[7] and it has stayed a literary word, used by writers such as Mérimée and Gide for a calm, steady temper.^[3][2]

English equanimity is recorded about 1600, first meaning “fairness, impartiality”, from the French word.^[8]

Timeline

• 1572 – Amyot uses equanimité in De la tranquillité de l'âme.^[2][3]
• Late 16th century – The adjective aequanime “even-tempered” is borrowed beside it.^[3]
• c. 1600 – English borrows the word as equanimity.^[8]
• 17th–18th centuries – The word is hardly used in classical French.^[3][5]
• 1819 – Boiste records it again, in the sense “impartiality”.^[3][5]
• 1873 – Littré describes it as little used.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. (literary) equanimity, evenness of mind and temper, composure: Il a appris la nouvelle avec équanimité.^[6][2][9]

Related words

• équanime
• égal
• équitable
• âme
• Latin aequanimitās
• English equanimity

Usage notes

The related adjective équanime “even-tempered” has fallen out of use.^[3]

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e 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 k l Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 24, 216a
5. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse