docile

Forms

docile (plural dociles)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin docilis (“easy to teach, docile”), with the same sense,^[2][3][4] derived from doceō (“to teach”).^[5][6][3] The Latin adjective also meant “pliant, easily handled”, of things such as the voice or hair.^[5] The same verb is behind docte and docteur.^[6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1495 in J. de Vignay's Miroir historial,^[2][8] in the senses “easily taught or persuaded” and “obedient”.^[8]

Semantic evolution

The adjective gradually moved away from its first sense, “ready to be taught”, which English docile kept, to mean “obedient”, often used without a complement.^[5] In the classical language it meant easily taught or persuaded, often with à: the Académie gave esprit docile in 1694.^[8] Like the Latin word, it also describes material things that are easily handled (1673, Boileau).^[5][8]

The adverb docilement is recorded from 1642.^[5][7] The noun docilité was borrowed separately from Latin docilitas (1282, dosilité), and indocile from Latin indocilis (1509).^[5]

Timeline

• 1282 – The noun dosilité is borrowed from Latin.^[5]
• 1495 – First record of docile, in J. de Vignay's Miroir historial.^[2][8]
• 1509 – Indocile is borrowed from Latin.^[5]
• 1642 – First record of docilement.^[5][7]
• 1673 – Boileau uses it of things that are easily handled.^[8]
• 1694 – The Académie records esprit docile.^[8]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (dated) Docile à: inclined to yield to or follow something: docile aux avis de son père.^[7][8]
2. Obedient, easily led or managed, of a person or an animal: une jument docile.^[7][9][10]
3. Showing submission or compliance: un regard docile.^[9]
4. Of things: easily handled;^[10][9][7] cheveux dociles, hair that is easy to style.^[10][9][7]

Related words

• docilité
• indocile
• docte
• docteur
• Latin docilis

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 111a
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e f g h Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
10. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)