animal

Pronunciation

• IPA: /a.ni.mal/^[1]

Forms

animal m (plural animaux)^[1]

Etymology

The noun is borrowed from Latin animal (“living being”), derived from anima (“breath, life”) (see âme).^{[2][3][4][5][6][1]} The adjective (13th century) is from the Latin derivative animālis (“living, animate”).^[4][5][7][8] The Latin word named any living being with the breath of life and translated Ancient Greek ζῷον (zôion); from Varro it could be opposed to “homo”, but it normally included humans and never plants, while everyday Latin said bēstia (see bête).^[3][7] Its neuter plural “animālia” gave the old French aumaille “cattle”, an inherited doublet.^[4][3][1]

Compare Spanish animal and Italian animale.^[9]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found at the end of the 12th century, rare and learned in the Middle Ages.^[5][3][10]

Semantic evolution

It came into wider use in the 16th century, remaining more general and more didactic than bête.^[3][4] Like bête it became a mild insult for a person (1537), and in the 17th century it was applied familiarly to women, as in Molière.^[3][4] In its main use it applies mostly to the higher animals, birds and above all mammals, as in animaux domestiques.^[3] The adjective was influenced by the noun, as in règne animal.^[4]

Timeline

• late 12th century – First recorded.^[5]
• 13th century – The adjective.^[4]
• 1537 – As an insult.^[3]
• 1564 – Animalcule.^[4]
• 1755 – Animalité, Rousseau.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. An animal, a living being that can feel and move, as opposed to plants: l'homme est un animal raisonnable.^[9][10]
2. An animal as opposed to a human, a beast: animaux sauvages, animaux domestiques.^[10][3]
3. (familiar, pejorative) A coarse or stupid person; also an affectionate insult: quel animal !^[10][9]

Adjective

1. Of animals: le règne animal, graisse animale.^[7][11]
2. Of the animal nature in humans, physical, instinctive: une confiance animale.^[7]

Word family

• animalcule
• animalier
• animalerie
• animalité
• animaliser

Related words

• aumaille
• âme
• bête
• Latin animal

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 24, 590b
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 24, 593a
9. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
10. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
11. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)