exceptionnel

Forms

exceptionnel (feminine exceptionnelle, masculine plural exceptionnels, feminine plural exceptionnelles)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French exception + -el.^[2][1][3][4] The noun, borrowed in the 13th century and mainly a legal term until the 16th, is from Latin exceptiō (“exception, legal objection”), from excipiō (“to take out, except, receive”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1739 in d'Argenson's Mémoires, in mesures exceptionnelles “exceptional measures”, meaning “constituting an exception”.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The sense “out of the ordinary” is recorded from 1832, in Balzac's cette enfance exceptionnelle;^[2][6] the GLLF dates it to Baudelaire in 1860.^[5] Littré still labels this sense a néologisme.^[7] In law, lois exceptionnelles and exceptional courts are those outside the ordinary law.^[2] The adverb exceptionnellement is recorded from 1838.^[2]

Timeline

• 1739 – D'Argenson writes mesures exceptionnelles.^[2][5]
• 1832 – Balzac uses it for “out of the ordinary”.^[2][6]
• 1838 – The adverb exceptionnellement.^[2]
• 1860 – Baudelaire's use, the GLLF's date for the sense “extraordinary”.^[5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. That constitutes an exception, departing from the rule: à titre exceptionnel, as an exception.^[6][2][8]
2. (law) Of a law or court: outside the ordinary law.^[2]
3. Out of the ordinary, extraordinary: un froid exceptionnel “an exceptional cold spell”.^[6][9][8]
4. Outstanding in value or quality, remarkable: une cuisinière exceptionnelle “an outstanding cook”.^[5][6]

Noun

1. l'exceptionnel: what is exceptional.^[2]

Word family

• exceptionnellement

Related words

• exception
• excepter
• Latin exceptiō

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)