conservateur

Forms

conservateur m (plural conservateurs, feminine conservatrice)^[1] Anglo-Norman conservateur and conservatour, recorded from about 1333.^[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin cōnservātor, perhaps under the influence of Old Occitan conservador (1261).^[3][4][1] The Latin noun is derived from cōnservō (“to keep, preserve, save”), and was used in political phrases about the state, the fatherland, the city or liberty, and as an epithet of gods in the sense “saviour”.^[3][4][5] Medieval Latin used it as a legal title for a proctor or delegate (1244).^[3][4] Picoche places conserver in the family of Latin servō (“to keep, watch over”).^[6][7]

Cognate with Italian conservatore and Spanish conservador.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found before 1283 in Philippe de Beaumanoir's Coutumes de Beauvaisis, as the legal title of the person charged with upholding a right or a privilege.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

The customary-law sense has disappeared, but a specialized use gave, at the end of the 15th century, the title of an official in charge of keeping something or a heritage, such as a museum, a library or the forests.^[4][9] In the 14th century Oresme calls the prince the conservateur de justice.^[8][5]

In the revolutionary period the word was applied to what or who maintains the existing social order (1794 for the Petit Robert and the DHLF, 1795 for the TLFi), and it passed into political life with Benjamin Constant's esprit conservateur (1815), “opposed to any innovation”.^[3][4][9] This use was strengthened in 1846 by a French translation of Disraeli in which conservateur renders the English conservative, the name of the Tory party since 1830.^[3][4] The English word is itself borrowed from French conservatif.^[4]

Timeline

• before 1283 – Beaumanoir uses it of the officer who upholds a right or privilege.^[3][4]
• c. 1333 – Anglo-Norman conservator “custodian, warden” is recorded.^[2]
• c. 1361 – Oresme calls the prince the conservateur de justice.^[5][8]
• 1465 – The title conservateur de l'équivalent is recorded.^[3]
• late 15th century – It becomes the title of a keeper of a museum, library or forests.^[4]
• 1794 – It is applied to whoever maintains the existing social order.^[4][9]
• 1815 – Benjamin Constant writes esprit conservateur.^[3][4]
• 1846 – A translation of Disraeli uses it for the English Conservative party.^[3][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A person in charge of keeping something, especially the curator of a museum or a library.^[9][1]
2. Conservateur des hypothèques: an official in charge of registering mortgages and transfers of property.^[9]
3. A person attached to the established political and social order, a conservative.^[9][1]
4. (food) A preservative.^[1]

Adjective

1. (politics) Tending to maintain the established social and political order, opposed to innovation: un député conservateur.^[9][5]
2. That keeps or protects something from alteration.^[3][5]

Word family

• ultraconservateur

Related words

• conserver
• conservation
• Latin cōnservātor

Usage notes

In Canada the Parti conservateur is one of the main political parties.^[4]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2/2, 1066b
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert