apologie

Forms

apologie f (plural apologies)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ecclesiastical Latin apologia, from Ancient Greek ἀπολογία (apología, “defence”), a word used of speeches for the defence in court.^[2][3][4][1] The Greek noun is derived from ἀπόλογος (apólogos, “story, account”),^[3][5] itself made up of ἀπό (apó, “away from”) and λόγος (lógos, “speech”), so that it is a speech that wards off a charge.^[6] It was borrowed in the same period as apologue, with which it shares this origin.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1488, for a speech of defence or a justification, in law and in religion.^[2][3][4]

Semantic evolution

The word was still felt as foreign in the 16th century: Calvin wrote that le mot d'apologie n'est pas usité en françois (“the word apology is not in use in French”).^[6] From 1762 it meant a justification of any kind,^[2] and in the 19th century it slid towards the idea of praise, now its main sense.^[2][7] In criminal law apologie du crime is speech or writing that seeks to justify an offence punished by law.^[5][7][8] Unlike English apology, which came to mean an expression of regret,^[9] French apologie kept the sense of defence or praise; the TLFi records faire apologie “to apologize” only as a regional usage of Canada.^[10] Of its derivatives, apologiste (1623) is fairly common, while apologique (1543) and apologiser (late 18th century) are rare.^[2]

Timeline

• 1488 – First recorded.^[2][3][4]
• 1543 – The derivative apologique appears.^[2]
• 16th century – Calvin finds the word not yet in use in French.^[6]
• 1623 – Apologiste is recorded.^[3][2]
• 1762 – It is used for a justification of any kind.^[2]
• 19th century – The sense shifts towards praise.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A speech or writing in defence or justification of a person, a doctrine or a cause: faire l'apologie de quelqu'un.^[7][6][10]
2. (law) Apologie du crime: speech or writing that seeks to justify an act punished by criminal law.^[7][5][8]
3. Praise, éloge of a person or thing: Son discours était une apologie du travail.^[7][8]
4. (Quebec, regional) Faire apologie: to apologize.^[10]

Word family

• apologiste

Related words

• apologue
• apologétique
• Ancient Greek ἀπολογία (apología)
• English apology

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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
9. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ a b c 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