Etymology and origin of the French word extrémiste
- Confidence
- Established
- Formation
- Derivation
- First attested
- 1915 Valéry, letters More words from the 20th century
- Ultimate origin
- Latin extrēmus
Etymology tree
From the same root
Pronunciation
- /ɛk.stʁe.mist/[1]
Forms
extrémiste (plural extrémistes)[1]
Etymology
It is formed from French extrême + -iste.[2][3][4][5] The TLFi and the DHLF date the adjective to 1915, in a letter of Paul Valéry, and the noun to 1917, in Romain Rolland's journal;[2][6] the Grand Robert, the Petit Robert and the GLLF give 1911, from Larousse.[3][5][4] The DHLF thinks the noun extrémisme (1918) grew out of the adjective.[6]
Earliest recorded meaning
The TLFi's first record is an adjective in a letter of Valéry (1915), who calls himself an extremist in the sense of one who goes to the extreme.[2]
Semantic evolution
Used as a noun from 1917, the word came to name a supporter of extreme doctrines, especially in politics.[2][6][5] Its opposite is modéré.[5]
Timeline
- 1911 – Recorded in Larousse, according to the GLLF.[4][3]
- 1915 – Valéry uses it as an adjective in a letter.[2][6]
- 1917 – Romain Rolland uses it as a noun in his journal.[2][6]
- 1918 – Extrémisme is first recorded.[6]
Meanings
Noun
- An extremist: a supporter of a doctrine carried to its extreme consequences, or a person holding extreme views, especially in politics: Les extrémistes des deux camps ont rejeté l'accord.[5][2][7]
Adjective
- Showing extrémisme; holding or expressing extreme opinions: Un groupe extrémiste a revendiqué l'attentat.[4][8][5]
Related words
- extrême
- extrémisme
- extrémité
- Latin extrēmus
References
- ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ 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
- ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
- ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
- ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry
“Extrémiste.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/extr%C3%A9miste. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.
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