impartial

Forms

impartial (feminine impartiale, masculine plural impartiaux, feminine plural impartiales)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French im- + partial.^{[2][3][4][5][1][6]} The base adjective was borrowed about 1370 and again before 1473, and is from Medieval Latin partiālis, from pars (“part”).^[5][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1576 in Sasbout's Flemish–French dictionary, then in Mellema's dictionary of 1618, for someone who does not take sides.^[2][4][7]

Semantic evolution

The adjective was formed directly on partial for a person who takes no side, usually in praise, with the sense “fair”.^[5] About 1776 Rousseau applied it to things such as a judgement.^[4] The noun impartialité dates from the same year, 1576, and the adverb impartialement from 1743.^[5][7] Partial itself had first meant “attached to a party”, its modern sense dating from the 16th century.^[7]

Timeline

• 1576 – Recorded in Sasbout's Flemish–French dictionary, with impartialité.^[2][7][5]
• 1618 – Found in Mellema's dictionary.^[2]
• 1743 – The adverb impartialement is recorded.^[5]
• c. 1776 – Rousseau uses it of things.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of a person: not taking sides, without bias, fair: une arbitre impartiale.^[8][2][4][6]
2. Of a thing: free of bias, objective: un compte rendu impartial.^[8][4][6]

Word family

• impartialité
• impartialement

Related words

• partial
• partialité
• partiel
• Latin pars

Usage notes

In the Convention the members of the Plain were called les impartiaux.^[6]

References

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