connaisseur

Forms

connaisseur m (plural connaisseurs, feminine connaisseuse)^[1] Old French connoisseor, also conoisseour.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French connaître + -eur.^[2][4][5] Wiktionary takes the stem from the present participle connaissant.^[1] The word belongs to the verb's sense “to be competent in”, and stands between spécialiste and amateur in meaning.^[6] Littré compares Old Occitan conoissedor, Spanish conocedor and Italian conoscitore.^[7]

The English word connoisseur (1714) was borrowed from the older French spelling.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found as connoisseor in Benoît's Chronique des ducs de Normandie (about 1170).^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

After its medieval use the word was taken up again in the 17th century.^[4][9] The feminine connaisseuse is found in Molière's Précieuses ridicules (1659),^[2][9] and Littré notes that it is P. L. Courier who insisted on the feminine form.^[7] Littré also describes it as a term that entered the fine arts, for one who judges their works with perfect knowledge, and as a hunting term for a huntsman who judges the stag well.^[7] Its use as an adjective is recorded from 1771 (Trévoux).^[2]

Timeline

• c. 1170 – Connoisseor appears in Benoît's Chronique des ducs de Normandie.^[2]
• 17th century – The word comes back into use.^[4][9]
• 1659 – Molière uses the feminine in the Précieuses ridicules.^[2]
• 1714 – English borrows the word as connoisseur.^[8]
• 1771 – The Trévoux dictionary records the adjective.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A connoisseur, an expert: a person with knowledge of something who can judge it well: un fin connaisseur de la peinture flamande.^[9][2][1]
2. (hunting) A huntsman who judges and recognizes a stag by its tracks.^[7]

Adjective

1. Knowledgeable, expert: un regard connaisseur.^[9][2]

Related words

• connaître
• connaissance
• English connoisseur

Usage notes

As an adjective the masculine form is also used of a woman: elle est très connaisseur.^[9]

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 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. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert