déférence

Forms

déférence f (plural déférences)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French déférer + -ence.^{[2][3][4][1][5]} The TLFi and the DHLF describe it more exactly as a learned derivative from the stem of Latin deferēns, the present participle of dēferō (“to carry down, to bring before a court, to pay honour”), with the suffix -ence.^[6][7][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Bloch and Wartburg, the Grand Robert and the GLLF date the first record to the 14th century, in Eustache Deschamps (1392).^[5][2][4] The TLFi's first clear example is from Carloix, about 1570, in the isolated sense “the act of deferring or granting”: la courtoise deference qu'il luy vouloit faire de sa charge.^[6][8]

Semantic evolution

After the isolated sense “act of deferring, granting”, the word was taken up again in 1628, in Peiresc's letters, in the modern sense “regard, respect for someone”, matching the adjective déférent.^[6][7] Bloch and Wartburg note that the modern sense of déférent “respectful” in turn comes from déférence.^[5] Littré defines it as a deference mixed with regard and prompted by respect.^[8]

English deference was borrowed from the French in the 1640s.^[9]

Timeline

• 1392 – First record, in Deschamps.^[2][4]
• c. 1570 – Carloix uses it for the act of granting a charge.^[6][8]
• 1628 – Peiresc uses it in the sense “regard, respect”.^[6][7]
• 1640s – English borrows it as deference.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. Respectful consideration shown to someone, often because of age or rank, leading one to comply with his wishes: Il parlait à son professeur avec déférence.^{[3][6][10][11]}
2. A mark of respect.^[10][8]

Related words

• déférer
• déférent
• English deference

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c d e f 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
7. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
11. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)