conditionnel

Forms

conditionnel (feminine conditionnelle, masculine plural conditionnels, feminine plural conditionnelles)^[1] Middle French condicionel in Oresme (14th century).^[2][3] In the 16th century the grammatical term was also conditional and conditionnale; the form conditionnel prevails in it in the 18th century.^[4][2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin condiciōnālis (“subject to conditions”),^[2][5][6][7] a grammatical and legal term of Late Latin,^[2][7] formed on condiciō (“condition”).^[5][6][1] Picoche lists it in the family of condition.^[4]

Littré compares Old Occitan conditional, Spanish condicional and Italian condizionale.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Nicole Oresme uses it in the 14th century in condicioneles suppositions, of something whose basis or validity depends on conditions;^[2][3] the Grand Robert dates it to the end of the century, the GLLF and the Petit Robert to about 1361.^[5][6][8]

Semantic evolution

Like its Latin source it served from the start in law, and in grammar from before 1546.^[7] Calvin wrote l'absolution est conditionnelle in theology in 1541, and Dolet called the particle si conditionnale (before 1546);^[2] Furetière has propositions conditionnelles in 1690.^[2] As a noun it meant in Oresme alone a result that depends on the truth of another (1370–1382), and the Port-Royal Grammar of 1660 used it for the verb mood that expresses an action subject to a condition.^[2] English already spoke of the condiscyonall mode in Palsgrave (1530).^[2]

Its derivative conditionnellement is as old as the adjective (14th century); the opposite inconditionnel (1777) was formed after English unconditional and, about 1945, came to mean a supporter of someone in all circumstances, especially of de Gaulle.^[7][2]

Timeline

• c. 1361 – Oresme writes condicioneles suppositions.^[6][2]
• 1370–1382 – Oresme uses it as a noun in logic.^[2]
• 1541 – Calvin's Institution uses it in theology.^[2][3]
• before 1546 – Dolet applies it to the particle si.^[2]
• 1660 – The Port-Royal Grammar uses it for the conditional mood.^[2]
• 1690 – Propositions conditionnelles in Furetière.^[2]
• 1777 – The opposite inconditionnel appears.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Depending on certain conditions or uncertain events: un accord conditionnel.^[8][6]
2. (law) Libération conditionnelle: parole, conditional release.^[8]
3. (grammar) Expressing a condition: proposition conditionnelle.^[8][2]

Noun

1. (grammar) The conditional mood, with one present and two past tenses, expressing a state or action that depends on a condition: si tu venais, je serais content.^[8][1]
2. (grammar) The same forms used as the future in the past: il disait qu'elle partirait.^[8]

Related words

• condition
• conditionné
• Latin condiciō

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 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 Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
4. ^ a b Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert