confessionnal

Forms

confessionnal m (plural confessionnaux)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French confession + -al,^[2][1][3][4] compare Ecclesiastical Latin confessionale in the first sense (1563).^[2] The noun comes by ellipsis from the adjective, first used of chairs for confession (1610–1613).^[2][5][6] The Petit Robert gives it as a borrowing from Italian confessionale,^[7] but the TLFi and the Grand Robert hold that the Italian word is recorded too late, in the 17th century.^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

A single, very rare record of 1521 uses it for a brief of absolution obtained after the confession of a fault.^[2] The account books of the cathedral of Saint-Pol-de-Léon (1610–1613) have the adjective in chaires confessionalles, “chairs used for confession”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

As a noun it named in 1633 the booth in which the priest hears confessions,^[2][5] though the GLLF takes that record as “kneeling desk for the penitent” and dates the modern sense from Richelet (1680).^[8] Bloch and Wartburg first record the noun in 1636, after chaire confessionale (1613) and siège confessional.^[6] By likeness of shape it named in 1700 the side pieces of an armchair for resting the head on, and in 1720 an armchair fitted with them.^[2][5] Figuratively it stands for confession itself, as in le secret du confessionnal.^[8][7]

Timeline

• 1521 – A rare use, “brief of absolution”.^[2]
• 1610–1613 – The adjective in chaires confessionalles.^[2][4]
• 1633 – The noun, the confessor's booth.^[2][5]
• 1680 – Richelet records the booth.^[8]
• 1700 – The side pieces of an armchair, confessionnaux.^[2][5]
• 1720 – An armchair fitted with them.^[2][5]
• 1866 – Larousse records the figurative sense “confession”.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A confessional, the enclosed booth in a church where a priest hears confessions: le curé attendait dans le confessionnal.^[7][2][1]
2. (figurative) Confession itself: le secret du confessionnal.^[8][7]
3. (furniture) A wing chair with side pieces to rest the head on, also fauteuil en confessionnal.^[2]

Related words

• confession
• confesser
• confesseur
• confessionnel

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 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. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse