admissible

Forms

admissible (plural admissibles)^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned formation on from Latin admissus, the past participle of admittō (“to admit”), with the suffix -ible.^[2][3][4] The Grand Robert, the GLLF and the Petit Robert instead take it from Medieval Latin admissibilis;^[5][6][7] the TLFi notes that this word is recorded only from the mid-15th century and is rather a borrowing from French, as Wiktionary also says.^[2][1] The French verb from the same Latin word is admettre.^[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1453 in the custumal of Touraine, as a legal term for a person who may be admitted: a party in default is no longer habile ne admissible to the main suit.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

In the 16th century it was used of a person who may be admitted to an office, as an alderman.^[2][8] From 1483 it also qualified things, a reason or excuse that can be accepted, a use Voltaire still has in 1761.^[2][4] In the organisation of examinations it was applied from 1866 (Larousse, of the agrégation) or 1885 to a candidate who has passed the written papers and may sit the oral.^[4][2][7] Today the sense “tolerable” is mostly found in negative sentences.^[7]

Timeline

• 1453 – First recorded in the custumal of Touraine.^[2]
• 1483 – Used of things that can be accepted.^[2]
• 16th century – Used of a person eligible for an office.^[2]
• 1789 – Beaumarchais uses admissibilité.^[4]
• 1866 – Larousse uses it of candidates for the agrégation.^[4]
• 1885 – The Grande Encyclopédie records the examination sense.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (dated) That the mind can accept, recevable, acceptable: une explication admissible.^[7][6]
2. Tolerable, bearable, mostly in negative sentences: Ce retard n'est pas admissible.^[7][6]
3. eligible for a post or office.^[7][2]
4. Of a candidate: having passed the written part of an examination or competition and allowed to sit the oral.^[7][2]

Noun

1. A candidate who has passed the first part of an examination: les admissibles du concours de cette année.^[7][2]

Word family

• admissibilité
• inadmissible

Related words

• admettre
• admission
• Latin admittō

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette