hérétique

Forms

hérétique (plural hérétiques)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ecclesiastical Latin haereticus (“heretic, heretical”), recorded from the 14th century.^[2][3][4] The Latin word comes from Ancient Greek αἱρετικός (hairetikós, “able to choose”), later “sectarian, holding a heresy”, a derivative of the noun behind hérésie.^[2][1][3]

It replaced the older forms inherited from the Latin word: herite (1080, in the Chanson de Roland), whose ending was remodelled on sodomite, a word it was often coupled with, and erege, herege (about 1165 or 1265).^[4][5][3][6] Littré explains that the old forms followed the Latin stress, while the modern form copies the written Latin.^[7]

Cognate with Old Occitan heretge, Spanish hereje and Italian eretico.^[7][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The noun hereticque, a person who professes or upholds a heresy, appears in the 14th century in the Récits d'un bourgeois de Valenciennes.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Used first of people, the word was applied to writings and opinions by 1656.^[3] From 1647 (in a letter of Poussin) it also named someone who holds views contrary to accepted ideas, as in un hérétique en médecine.^[2][3] Littré adds a familiar use for an unbeliever.^[7] English heretic (mid-14th century) comes from Old French eretique.^[8]

Timeline

• 1080 – The older form herite appears in the Chanson de Roland.^[5][6][7]
• c. 1265 – Brunetto Latini uses herege.^[5][6]
• 14th century – The learned form hereticque is recorded.^[2]
• 1647 – Poussin uses it of someone opposed to received ideas.^[2][3]
• 1656 – It is applied to writings and opinions.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Catholic Church) Holding or upholding a heresy.^[9][7]
2. Tainted with heresy, heterodox: une thèse hérétique.^[9][2]
3. Holding an opinion contrary to the ideas accepted by a group, dissident.^[9]

Noun

1. A heretic, a person who professes a heresy.^[9][7]
2. A person whose views go against received ideas.^[9][2]

Related words

• hérésie
• hérésiarque
• héréticité
• Latin haereticus
• English heretic

References

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