apparence

Forms

apparence f (plural apparences)^[1] Old French apparenche (before 1225) and aparance, aparence (1280s).^[2][3][4] Anglo-Norman spellings include aparaunce and apparaunce.^[5]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin appārentia,^[3][4][1][6] a derivative of Classical Latin appāreō (“to appear”).^[2][3] The Old French forms show the influence of the verb aparoir, or a derivation from it:^[2] the Grand Larousse derives the word from the Old French verb with the influence of the Latin noun,^[7] and Bloch and Wartburg call the 12th- and 13th-century aparance a derivative of the verb or an adaptation after it, borrowed from Latin in the 14th century.^[8] In Late Latin the noun meant “presence”, like appāritiō in Church language, and later, from the 4th century, “outward aspect”.^[2]

Littré compares Old Occitan apparencia, Spanish apariencia and Italian apparenza.^[9]

Earliest recorded meaning

It came into French in the sense “outward aspect”, as apparenche before 1225 and aparence in 1280;^[2][3] Rey judges it rare before the 14th century.^[2] Beaumanoir (1283) writes of a stranger who stays in a town sans fere aparance de voloir y demorer, “without showing any sign of wishing to stay”.^[9][4]

Semantic evolution

From the neutral sense “what one sees or perceives” the word followed the senses of apparaître.^[2] It came to mean “likelihood” (1468), much used in the 17th and 18th centuries: il y a apparence “it is probable” (1549) has gone, but phrases such as selon toute apparence and contre toute apparence remain.^[2][9] The Anglo-Norman texts also use it for display and pomp and for the standing of persons.^[5]

In the middle of the 17th century a new sense spread through the word: the outward aspect as distinct from reality, or opposed to it, appearances seen as a lure for the weak senses and reason, an idea developed by religious philosophy, notably the Jansenists.^[2] Older phrases such as en apparence (1636) and sous apparence (1669) were drawn into this sense.^[2] Sauver les apparences means to let nothing blameworthy be seen.^[9][4]

Timeline

• before 1225 – First record, as apparenche.^[2][3]
• c. 1265 – Earliest Anglo-Norman record.^[5]
• 1283 – Beaumanoir writes aparance.^[7][4][9]
• 1468 – First used for likelihood.^[2]
• 1549 – Il y a apparence “it is probable” is recorded.^[2]
• 1636 – En apparence is recorded.^[2]
• mid-17th century – The sense “appearance as opposed to reality” spreads.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. The outward aspect of a person or thing; how it looks or presents itself.^[4][7][1]
2. Une apparence de: a trace, a semblance of something.^[4][9]
3. The outward look of a thing as distinct from its reality: des apparences trompeuses.^[4]
4. Sauver les apparences: to let nothing be seen that might harm one's reputation.^[4][9]
5. En apparence: outwardly, judging by what can be seen.^[4][9]
6. (dated) Likelihood: selon toute apparence, contre toute apparence.^[9][2]
7. (philosophy) A phenomenon, as opposed to the thing in itself.^[4]

Related words

• apparaître
• apparoir
• apparent
• apparemment

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 25, 24a
7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette