déchéance

Forms

déchéance f (plural déchéances)^[1] Old French decaance;^[2] Monet has decheance in 1636.^[2]

Etymology

It is formed from French déchoir + -ance.^[2][3][4][5] The verb is from Vulgar Latin *dēcadō, from cadō (“to fall”).^[4] Wiktionary compares Late Latin decadentia, and names décadence, borrowed from Latin, as its doublet.^[1]

Littré compares Old Occitan dechazensa, Spanish decadencia and Italian scadenza.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded as decaance in 1174, in Guernes de Pont-Sainte-Maxence's life of Thomas Becket, for a moral fall: Mais jo quit dire veir de cele decaance “But I think I speak the truth about that fall”.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

From its first sense of falling morally, the word developed two legal senses: the loss of a right as a penalty or by lapse of time (1636, decheance de bourgeoisie) and removal from an office or a throne, first found in Robespierre's speech on the trial of Louis XVI in 1792.^[7][2] The deposition of a sovereign is the sense Littré illustrates with Louis XVI.^[6]

In modern use it is also the physical or mental decline that comes with age or illness (déchéance physique).^[2][8][9]

Timeline

• 1174 – Decaance “moral fall” in Guernes de Pont-Sainte-Maxence.^[2][7]
• 1636 – Monet records decheance de bourgeoisie, the loss of a right.^[2][7]
• 1792 – Robespierre uses it for removal from office, of Louis XVI.^[2][7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A fall to a lower state, socially or morally, and the state of one who has fallen: degradation, downfall.^[8][2]
2. Déchéance physique, déchéance intellectuelle: serious physical or mental decline, from age or illness.^[8][2]
3. (law) Loss of a right or of an office as a sanction, or by expiry of a time limit: déchéance de l'autorité parentale.^[8][9][6]
4. Deposition of a sovereign.^[6][9]

Related words

• déchoir
• déchet
• décadence

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, 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. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 28a
6. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse