effronterie

Forms

effronterie f (plural effronteries)^[1] Middle French enfronterie (mid-14th century).^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is formed from French effronté + -erie.^[2][1][5] Effronté (1275–80, as esfrontez) is a compound of front with the prefix é- and the suffix -é; compare Late Latin effrōns (“shameless”), properly “without a brow to blush with”.^[2] Rey explains it likewise as “without a front”, the forehead standing for the seat of feeling.^[4] That noun is from Latin frōns (“forehead”).^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in the mid-14th century as enfronterie, glossing Latin impudentia in the Glossarium Abavus.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

It names the shameless boldness of an effronté person, and by extension the brazen character of an act.^[2][3] The GLLF's first record of the modern form is from 1605.^[7] Rey notes that effronté and its derivatives have become less common in modern French.^[4] English effrontery (1715) is from the French word.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 1220 – Gautier de Coinci has affronté “impudent”.^[2]
• 1275–1280 – Jean de Meun uses esfrontez in the Roman de la Rose.^[2]
• Mid-14th century – Enfronterie glosses Latin impudentia.^[2][3]
• 1605 – The form effronterie is recorded.^[7]
• 1715 – English effrontery is borrowed.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. Shameless boldness; effrontery, impudence, cheek.^[3][2][1] Followed by de and an infinitive, it means having the nerve to do something.^[3]
2. The brazen character of an act; an impudent act.^[2][9]

Related words

• effronté
• effrontément
• front
• Latin frōns
• English effrontery

References

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