désapprouver

Forms

désapprouver^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French dés- + approuver.^[2][3][4][5] The base verb is from Latin approbō (“to approve, prove”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1535 in Colin Bucher, from Delboulle's collection;^[2][4] the GLLF dates it to about 1530, in the sense “not to approve, to oppose openly”.^[6]

Semantic evolution

Its sense has stayed “to judge unfavourably”.^[7] Littré quotes Henri IV writing that the cardinal had always disapproved (desapprouvé) such violent proceedings.^[5] In classical French it could also mean “to detest”, as in La Bruyère.^[6] The Académie illustrated it from 1798 with the example tout le monde désapprouve sa conduite.^[2]

The learned nouns désapprobation (1783, in Beaumarchais) and désapprobateur (an adjective in Montesquieu in 1748, a noun in 1787) answer to the verb.^[7]

Timeline

• 1535 – Colin Bucher uses desaprover.^[2]
• 16th century – Henri IV writes desapprouvé.^[5]
• 1748 – Désapprobateur appears in Montesquieu.^[7]
• 1783 – Beaumarchais uses désapprobation.^[7]
• 1798 – The Académie's dictionary gives the example tout le monde désapprouve sa conduite.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. (transitive) To judge unfavourably, to find bad; to disapprove of, blame.^[8][2][9]
2. (absolute) To show disapproval, as a crowd does by booing.^[8]
3. (reflexive) Se désapprouver: to refuse oneself approval.^[5]
4. (classical) To detest.^[6]

Related words

• approuver
• désapprobation
• désapprobateur
• Latin approbō

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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)