exubérance

Forms

exubérance f (plural exubérances)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin exuberantia (“abundance, overflowing, excess”), derived from exūberō (“to abound, overflow”).^[2][3][4][5] Littré and the Grand Robert link it with exubérant.^[6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is in Ambroise Paré's surgery (1561), for the excessive growth of a part of the body, a tissue or an organ.^[2][3][6]

Semantic evolution

The Latin sense “abundance, overflowing” followed in 1578 (exuberance de bonté).^[2][3] In this sense the word was taken up again in the 18th century, at first only in law and learned use, and became common only in the 19th century.^[3][8] Littré gives it for a fulness that overflows and, as a fault of style, for a writer who says more than he should.^[6]

By the end of the 18th century Rousseau already used it for the overflowing vitality that shows in someone's manner and speech, a use the Petit Robert dates as general from the late 19th century.^[3][2][8] English exuberance was borrowed from the French in the 1630s.^[9]

Timeline

• 1561 – Paré uses it for an excessive growth in the body.^[2][3]
• 1578 – La Boderie writes exuberance de bonté “abundance of goodness”.^[2][3]
• 1630s – English borrows it as exuberance.^[9]
• Late 18th century – Rousseau uses it absolutely, for an overflowing vitality.^[2][3]
• 1836 – Landais records the figurative sense “excessive, unruly character”.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. Great abundance or excessive growth: l'exubérance de la végétation.^[8][5][10]
2. (of style or speech) Excess, prolixity.^[8][6][4]
3. Overflowing vitality or high spirits shown in behaviour and words: Elle a raconté son voyage avec exubérance.^[8][5][10]
4. An exuberant act or word.^[8]

Related words

• exubérant
• exubérer
• English exuberance

References

1. ^ 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)