immoral

Forms

immoral (feminine immorale, masculine plural immoraux, feminine plural immorales)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French in- + moral, with the negative prefix in its form ⟨im-⟩.^[2][3][4][1] The TLFi compares the English word immoral, recorded from 1660.^[2] moral goes back to Latin mōrālis.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Rey dates the first record to 1622, in the sense “contrary to morality”.^[6] The TLFi and the Grand Robert give a use by Pascal from about 1660, known only through Bescherelle's dictionary of 1845.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

After this early use the word was taken up again in 1770 by Raynal, and it is only from then that it is applied to persons who act against the principles of morality.^[2][3][6] It was the first of a series of negative derivatives of moral, followed by immoralité (1777), immoralisme (1845) and immoraliste (1874, Barbey d'Aurevilly).^[6] During the Revolution, Robespierre's party called the followers of Danton les immoraux.^[4]

Timeline

• 1622 – First recorded, according to Rey.^[6]
• c. 1660 – A use by Pascal is cited by Bescherelle.^[2][3]
• 1770 – Raynal uses it of persons.^[2][3]
• 1836 – The Académie's supplement records the adverb immoralement.^[2][7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of a person: acting against the principles of morality; corrupt, debauched.^[7][2]
2. Of a thing: contrary to morality or to decency, as a book, a film or a way of behaving: un roman immoral “an immoral novel”.^[7][2][8]

Word family

• immoralement
• immoralité
• immoralisme
• immoraliste

Related words

• moral
• morale
• amoral
• Latin mōrālis

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 6/3, 123a
6. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse