anarchiste

Forms

anarchiste (plural anarchistes)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French anarchie + -iste.^[2][1][3][4] The noun anarchie, recorded in the 14th century in Oresme, is from Ancient Greek ἀναρχία (anarkhía, “absence of command”), which reached French through the Latin translations of Aristotle.^[4][1]

The familiar forms anarcho (1894) and anar (1901) are a slang formation and a clipping of the word.^[2][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Ranft lists the noun for 1791 without a quotation; the first quotation, from the debates of the National Convention on 27 September 1792, uses it of a person who professes or practises anarchy.^[2] At the time it also meant one who stirs up anarchy, a disturber of order.^[6][2]

Semantic evolution

Rey calls it a word of the Revolution, which became common in the middle of the 19th century as anarchie developed and took on new connotations at the end of that century.^[5] The adjective, for a supporter of anarchism, is found in Laharpe's dictionary in 1797 and in the Académie's dictionary in 1798.^[7][8] The doctrine itself was named anarchisme in 1834; like anarchiste, it was later extended to a refusal of all authority (1917).^[5]

In English, anarchist is recorded from the 1670s;^[9] Etymonline notes that it gained currency during the French Revolution.^[9]

Timeline

• 1791 – Ranft records the noun.^[2][3][4]
• 1792 – A record of the National Convention uses it of those who profess anarchy.^[2]
• 1792 – Robespierre, in a speech on the trial of Louis XVI, complains that the people's defenders are proscribed as anarchistes et agitateurs.^[2]
• 1797 – Laharpe uses it as an adjective.^[7]
• 1798 – The Académie records the adjective.^[8]
• 1834 – Anarchisme names the doctrine.^[5]
• 1894 – The slang form anarcho is recorded.^[2]
• 1901 – The clipping anar appears.^[2][10][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A supporter of anarchism, or a member of a party professing it.^[10][2][1]
2. By extension, a person who rejects all authority and every rule.^[10][11]
3. (dated) A person who spreads political or social disorder.^[2][6]

Adjective

1. Professing or relating to anarchism, anarchistic.^[11][7][1]
2. Rejecting all authority or rules.^[11]

Word family

• anar

Related words

• anarchie
• anarchisme
• anarchique

Usage notes

The familiar clipping anar (plural anars) is used as a noun and an adjective.^[10][5] Larousse warns against confusing anarchiste, for a supporter of anarchy in the political sense, with anarchique, which refers to anarchy as a doctrine or, figuratively, to great disorder.^[11]

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 i j k 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, 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 e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)