Etymologically
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animal

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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

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)