consécutif

Forms

consécutif (feminine consécutive, masculine plural consécutifs, feminine plural consécutives)^[1] Middle French spellings include consequutif (1509).^[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Medieval Latin consecutivus (about 1160),^[3][1] a learned formation on the stem of cōnsecūtus (“having followed”), the past participle of cōnsequor (“to follow, come after”).^[2][3][4] The TLFi and Bloch and Wartburg describe the French word itself as derived from the Latin participle with the suffix -if.^[2][4] The Latin verb is formed with com- and sequor (“to follow”).^[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Bloch and Wartburg date it to 1474;^[4][2] the first quotations are from Jean Lemaire de Belges in 1509, with effet consequutif and jours consequutifz “consecutive days”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The word is mostly used in the plural, for things that follow one another without a break (trois ans consécutifs); in the singular it was used in logic (effet consécutif, 1509) and in grammar.^[3][2] The construction consécutif à, for an effect following from a cause, dates from 1845 (Bescherelle).^[3][6][7] In grammar a proposition consécutive is a clause stating a consequence, recorded by Larousse in 1907.^[6]

Timeline

• 1373 – The adverb consécutivement is recorded.^[3]
• 1474 – First record of the adjective.^[4][2]
• 1509 – Jean Lemaire de Belges writes effet consequutif and jours consequutifz.^[2]
• 1845 – Bescherelle records consécutif à “resulting from”.^[6][3]
• 1907 – Larousse records the grammatical proposition consécutive.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Following one another without a break, in time, space or order; consecutive, successive: Il a neigé pendant quatre jours consécutifs.^[7][2][8]
2. Consécutif à: following from, resulting from: Une douleur consécutive à une chute.^[7][6][8]
3. (grammar) Proposition consécutive: a subordinate clause expressing a consequence.^[7][6]

Related words

• consécutivement
• consécution
• conséquent
• suivre
• Latin cōnsequor

References

1. ^ a b c 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 d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
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 Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette