extravagance

Forms

extravagance f (plural extravagances)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French extravagant + -ance.^[2][3][4] The TLFi dates it to 1560, Bloch and Wartburg to the 15th century and the Robert dictionaries to the end of the 15th century.^[2][5][3][4] Its base comes from Medieval Latin extravagans (“promulgated outside the body of canon law”), from extrā (“outside”) and vagāns, the present participle of vagor (“to wander”).^[5] The noun developed in step with the adjective.^[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

In 1560 the Roman d'Alector uses it for a digression: after describing the city of Orbe “par forme de digression”, the author writes “après laquelle extravagance faut retourner à nostre propos” (after which digression we must return to our subject).^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

The sense “digression” has disappeared.^[6] Montaigne used the word for an excess (1595 in the TLFi, 1580 in the GLLF).^[2][8][6] In the 17th century it came to mean words or actions that go against common sense (1629 in the GLLF, 1634 in the TLFi, both from Mairet), the quality of an extravagant thing (1642, Corneille) and the state of an extravagant person (1666, Molière).^[8][2]

Timeline

• 1560 – The Roman d'Alector uses it for a digression.^[2][7]
• 1580s–1595 – Montaigne uses it for an excess.^[2][8]
• 1629 – Mairet uses it for senseless words or actions.^[8]
• 1642 – Corneille uses it for the quality of an extravagant thing.^[8]
• 1666 – Molière uses it for the state of an extravagant person.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. The state of a person who lacks common sense, folly, and the quality of what is extravagant: l'extravagance de ses projets.^[4][2][7]
2. An extravagant idea, word or act, an eccentricity: faire des extravagances.^[4][7][8]

Related words

• extravagant
• extravaguer
• extravagamment
• Medieval Latin extravagans

References

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