coexister

Forms

coexister^[1]

Etymology

The TLFi treats it as borrowed from Late Latin coexsistō (“to exist together”), a word of Christian Latin used especially of the persons of the Trinity.^[2] In modern French it is felt as formed from French co- + exister, and Bloch and Wartburg, the GLLF, the Grand Robert and Littré derive it so.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is the participle coexistant in a theological sense in Maumont's translation of the works of Justin (1554), an isolated use; it returns in the same use in the 1752 supplement of the Dictionnaire de Trévoux.^[2] The general sense “exist at the same time” is found in Retz before 1679.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Bloch and Wartburg, the DHLF and the GLLF date the verb to 1745 (from Brunot), and the Grand Robert and Petit Robert to 1771.^{[3][7][4][5][8]} In the 20th century it also became a term of politics, after coexistence: of two states or blocs, to keep peaceful relations despite opposed economic and political systems.^[7][4]

Timeline

• 1554 – Coexistant is used in theology by Maumont.^[2]
• before 1679 – Retz uses the verb in a general sense.^[2]
• 1745 – Date of first record in Bloch and Wartburg, the DHLF and the GLLF.^[3][7][4]
• 1771 – Date of first record in the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert.^[5][8]

Meanings

Verb

1. (intransitive) To coexist, to exist together or at the same time: dans cette ville, plusieurs langues coexistent.^[8][9][10]
2. (politics) Of states or blocs, to live in peace despite opposed regimes.^[4][7]

Word family

• coexistant

Related words

• coexistence
• exister
• existence
• Latin exsistō

Usage notes

It is conjugated with the auxiliary avoir.^[6][10]

References

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