délicieux

Forms

délicieux (feminine délicieuse, masculine plural délicieux, feminine plural délicieuses)^[1] Old French delicius (about 1121), feminine deliciouse (early 13th century).^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin dēliciōsus (“sweet, pleasant, of things, voluptuous, of people”), first as delicius about 1121.^[2][3][5] The Late Latin adjective is formed on dēliciae (“delights”),^[4][6][7] which Picoche places in the family of archaic Latin laciō (“to lure, to entice”), with délice and délicat.^[8]

Cognate with Old Occitan delicios, Spanish delicioso and Italian delizioso.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1121 in the Voyage de saint Brendan, in flurs delicius “delightful flowers”, of pleasant things.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

In the early 13th century the feminine deliciouse was applied to a lady in the Clef d'amors, and the word could also describe a person given to pleasures.^[2][6] In the Roman de la Rose it describes a luxurious age: N'estoit pas si delicieus Ne de robes, ne de viandes (“it was not so luxurious in clothes or food”).^[6]

The general sense “extremely pleasant” was joined by the sense “very pleasing to the senses, especially taste and smell”, and after 1695 (Madame de Sévigné) it was used loosely of a charming person or thing.^[7][9] Littré also notes an ironic use, of a claim that cannot be taken seriously.^[6] The adverb délicieusement was formed on the old feminine before 1250.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 1121 – Delicius appears in the Voyage de saint Brendan.^[2][3]
• Early 13th century – Deliciouse is used of a lady in the Clef d'amors.^[2]
• Before 1250 – The adverb deliciousement is recorded.^[3]
• 1695 – Madame de Sévigné uses it of a charming person or thing.^[7][9]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Extremely pleasant, giving great pleasure: une soirée délicieuse.^[9][6]
2. Delicious, very pleasing to the taste or smell: Ce gâteau aux poires est délicieux.^[9][7]
3. Charming, delightful, of a person or thing: Leur fille est délicieuse.^[9][7]
4. (ironic, dated) Absurd, hard to believe.^[6]

Word family

• délicieusement

Related words

• délicat
• délice
• délectable
• Late Latin dēliciōsus

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 34a
6. ^ a b c d e f g Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
9. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert