constitutif

Forms

constitutif (feminine constitutive, masculine plural constitutifs, feminine plural constitutives)^[1]

Etymology

In its legal sense it is from French constituer, formed after the supine of Latin cōnstituō (“to establish”).^[2][3][4][5] In the sense “that constitutes a thing” it is borrowed from Late Latin cōnstitūtīvus (“that constitutes”), a sense brought in by the vocabulary of medicine.^[2][3] Wiktionary gives only the Latin word as its source.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1488, in La Mer des Histoires, meaning “that establishes by law”; the Grand Robert and the GLLF gloss it there as “that establishes a constitution”, said of a law founding a state.^[2][5][6]

Semantic evolution

In 1550 the surgeon Hervé Fierabras used it for what enters into the make-up of a thing and makes it what it is.^[2][6][3] The GLLF dates the legal sense “that establishes a right”, as in a deed creating ownership, from 1550 (Huguet) and the sense “essential, fundamental” from 1866 (Larousse).^[6] Littré cites Cotgrave for the word in the 16th century.^[7]

Both senses are current: the legal one in titre constitutif de propriété, and the general one in éléments constitutifs, the parts from which a whole is made.^[2][8]

Timeline

• 1488 – First record, in La Mer des Histoires, in the legal sense.^[2][4]
• 1550 – Hervé Fierabras uses it for “that makes up a thing”.^[2][6]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records the word.^[7]
• 1804 – The Code civil uses acte constitutif and titre constitutif.^[2]
• 1866 – The Larousse records the sense “essential, fundamental”.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (law) That establishes a right in law: titre constitutif de propriété.^[2][8][7]
2. That enters into the composition of a whole, constituent: les éléments constitutifs d'un alliage.^[2][8][6]
3. That forms the essence of something, essential, fundamental: un trait constitutif de son style.^[6][8]

Related words

• constituer
• constituant
• constitution
• reconstituer
• Latin cōnstituō

References

1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b 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 Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert