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exiger

Etymology and origin of the French word exiger

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1373, mandate of Charles V
Borrowed from
Latin exigo
Ultimate origin
Latin (agō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin exigo
French exiger

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɛɡ.zi.ʒe/[1]

Forms

exiger[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin exigō (“to drive out; to demand, exact”), from ex- (“out”) and agō (“to drive”).[2][3][4][5] The TLFi's first record is exigier in 1373;[2][6][3] Bloch and Wartburg give 1357.[2][6][3] Exigence was borrowed from Late Latin exigentia in the same century.[3][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

In a mandate of Charles V (1373) it means to collect a tax and, more widely, to demand firmly what is owed.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The sense “to demand firmly” has stayed the usual one.[3] With a thing as subject the verb has meant “to make necessary” since Montchrestien (1604).[2][3] The GLLF dates the sense “to demand beyond what is fair” to Montaigne (1580).[7]

The present participle gave the adjective exigeant, recorded in 1762, now said mainly of a person who is hard to please.[3]

Timeline

  • 1357 – First record according to Bloch and Wartburg.[6]
  • 1373 – Exigier, of collecting a tax.[2]
  • 1580 – Montaigne uses it of demanding more than is fair.[7]
  • 1603 – The derivative exigible.[3][6]
  • 1604 – With a thing as subject, “to make necessary”, in Montchrestien.[2]
  • 1762 – Exigeant.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To demand firmly what one has, or claims to have, the right or power to obtain: exiger des excuses.[8][9]
  2. To require as necessary for a role or post: qualités qu'on exige d'une secrétaire.[8][9]
  3. (of things) To make necessary, to call for: ce métier exige de la diplomatie.[8][7]

Word family

  • exigible
  • inexigible
  • exigeant

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ 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, 294b
  6. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Exiger.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/exiger. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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