compréhensif

Forms

compréhensif (feminine compréhensive, masculine plural compréhensifs, feminine plural compréhensives)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin comprehēnsīvus, a grammatical term meaning “collective”, from Latin comprehendō (“to grasp, comprise”).^[2][3][1] The French word took only its form from Latin: its sense “able to grasp with the mind” follows the verb comprendre.^[2][4]

Littré compares Old Occitan comprehensiu.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1503, in vertu compréhensive in Le Guidon en françoys, the French version of Guy de Chauliac's surgery.^[2][6][7]

Semantic evolution

In the 16th century it also appears in comprehensive veue “faculty of conceiving” (1552, Pontus de Tyard); it then fell out of use, and was taken up again in the 19th century, from 1821 (Joseph de Maistre).^[2][4][3] In logic and philosophy it describes a term or idea that contains a greater or smaller number of features.^[2][7] The sense now usual, understanding towards other people, indulgent, matches the psychological sense of compréhension.^[4][7]

Timeline

• 1503 – Vertu compréhensive in Le Guidon en françoys.^[2][6]
• 1552 – Pontus de Tyard writes comprehensive veue for the faculty of conceiving.^[2]
• 1821 – Joseph de Maistre revives it in the Soirées de Saint-Pétersbourg.^[2][3]
• 1834 – The noun compréhensivité is attested in Boiste.^[2][4]
• 1835 – The opposite incompréhensif is attested.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Understanding towards others, tolerant, indulgent: une mère compréhensive.^[7][8][1]
2. (logic) Containing a greater or smaller number of characteristics in its meaning.^[7][8][1]
3. (archaic) Able to comprehend, having the faculty of understanding.^[7][1]

Word family

• compréhensivité
• incompréhensif

Related words

• compréhensible
• compréhension
• comprendre
• Latin comprehendō

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
7. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)