autocratique

Forms

autocratique (plural autocratiques)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French autocrate + -ique.^[2][1][3] The Grand Robert and the GLLF derive it from autocratie instead,^[4][5] although its first record (1768) is older than the date they give for the noun (1794).^[4] The noun autocrate is from Ancient Greek αὐτοκρατής (autokratḗs, “ruling by oneself”), from αὐτο- (auto-, “self”) and κρατέω (kratéō, “to rule”).^[4][2][1] Picoche groups the word with the other learned words in ⟨-crate⟩ and ⟨-cratie⟩, from Greek suffixes related to κράτος (krátos, “strength, power”).^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1768 in the Éphémérides du Citoyen, of a despot whose authority would be “autocratic”, in the same year as autocrate.^[4][5]

Semantic evolution

The word has kept its political meaning, “belonging to an autocrat or to autocracy”.^[3][7] Balzac wrote in La Cousine Bette that any power without counterweight, unchecked and autocratic, leads to abuse and folly.^[4][7] By extension it is also said of an imperious will.^[2]

English took it as autocratic, recorded from 1815 in reference to Napoleon.^[8]

Timeline

• 1768 – First record, in the Éphémérides du Citoyen.^[4][7]
• 1794 – The noun autocratie is recorded.^[4][7]
• 1815 – English borrows it as autocratic.^[8]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of or belonging to an autocrat or to autocracy: un régime autocratique.^[7][9][3]
2. Despotic, tyrannical, authoritarian.^[10][2][1]

Related words

• autocrate
• autocratie
• Ancient Greek αὐτοκρατής (autokratḗs)
• English autocratic

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
3. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
4. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ 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
10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)