condamnation

Forms

condamnation f (plural condamnations)^[1] Old French condempnation (13th century); condamnation is recorded from 1536.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin condemnātiō (“sentence, penalty”), first as Old French condempnation in the 13th century.^[2][4][3] The Latin noun is formed from the supine of condemnō (“to condemn”).^[4][5] The spelling with ⟨a⟩ was remade after damner and damnation, as was that of the verb condamner.^[3][4] Wiktionary allows that it may also be formed in French from the verb with a suffix.^[1] The TLFi calls the Latin word classical, the DHLF Late Latin; in Late Latin it also meant a money penalty and, figuratively, blame.^[2][3]

Littré gives condemnacion in Old Occitan, Spanish condenación and Italian condannazione.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

In a 13th-century text of the customs of Artois, condempnation means a judgment that condemns, as opposed to absolution: a final sentence must contain one or the other.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Besides the legal judgment, Middle French used it for a fine (1474).^[2] In religious language it is God's condemnation of sinners, as in Lefèvre d'Étaples's New Testament of 1525.^[2][6] The figurative sense “blame, disapproval” is found in Calvin in 1541,^[2][3] and in Bossuet (1688) a thing that bears witness against someone.^[2] The Goncourts used it in 1862 of a patient given up as incurable.^[2][3] Since 1961 it also names a device or system that locks a door.^[2][3]

Timeline

• 1200s – Condempnation “judgment, sentence” appears in the customs of Artois.^[2]
• 1474 – It means a fine in the letters of Louis XI.^[2]
• 1525 – It is used of God's judgment.^[2][6]
• 1536 – The spelling condamnation is recorded.^[2][3]
• 1541 – Calvin uses it for “blame”.^[2][3]
• 1862 – The Goncourts use it of an incurable patient.^[2]
• 1961 – It names a locking device.^[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A court's sentence condemning someone to a penalty or obligation: condamnation à mort.^[7][2]
2. Strong disapproval, censure, and by extension something that shows a thing to be bad.^[7][2]
3. The locking of a door or opening: condamnation automatique des portes.^[7]

Related words

• condamner
• damner
• damnation
• Latin condemnātiō

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 q r s 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 d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert