éventuel

Forms

éventuel (feminine éventuelle, masculine plural éventuels, feminine plural éventuelles)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin ēventus (“outcome, event”), a learned formation on the Latin stem with the French suffix -el.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} The Latin noun is the noun of action of ēveniō (“to come out, happen”).^[3][1] Wiktionary instead treats the adjective as a learned borrowing of a Latin ēventuālis,^[1] a form that Littré calls fictitious.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1718, in the Académie's dictionary, as a term of law,^[2][5][8] used of treaties between sovereigns that rested on an uncertain event.^[3]

Semantic evolution

In modern law the adjective describes what may come about if certain conditions are met, such as a clause or an inheritance whose execution depends on an uncertain event.^[3][2] It also entered the vocabulary of philosophy, and as a noun l'éventuel it named the conditional mood in grammar (1845).^[3][2]

In general use it was applied to what may or may not happen, at first to what may or may not have effects, as in Dumas's spéculations éventuelles (1846).^[3] In the 20th century it came to be said of a person who may or may not be or do something, such as a possible replacement.^[3][8]

The adverb éventuellement (1737) was first a legal term and then spread into general use meaning “possibly, if the case arises”, not “in the end” like the English eventually.^[3][2] The noun éventualité is recorded in 1793, in Beaumarchais.^[3]

Timeline

• 1718 – The Académie records it as a legal adjective.^[2][5]
• 1737 – First record of the adverb éventuellement.^[2][3]
• 1793 – Beaumarchais uses the noun éventualité.^[3]
• 1845 – Bescherelle records l'éventuel as a noun.^[2][3]
• 1846 – Dumas writes of spéculations éventuelles.^[3]
• 20th century – It is used of persons, as a possible candidate or successor.^[3][8]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (law) That may come about if certain conditions are met; depending on an uncertain event.^[9][2]
2. Possible but not certain; that may or may not happen: une hausse éventuelle des prix.^[9][8]
3. Of a person: prospective, potential: un acheteur éventuel.^[9][8]

Noun

1. (philosophy) What belongs to the contingent future.^[9][10]
2. (grammar, dated) The conditional mood.^[3][10]

Word family

• éventualité
• éventuellement

Related words

• événement
• Latin ēventus

Usage notes

Littré records l'éventuel as the part of a teacher's pay in the faculties and lycées that was taken from examination fees or pupils' fees, not fixed in advance.^[7]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 m n o Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 252b
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)