impartialité

Forms

impartialité f (plural impartialités)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French impartial + -ité.^{[2][1][3][4][5]} The adjective was itself formed in 1576 directly on partial with the prefix im-.^[5][2] That word, recorded since Oresme in the 14th century, is from Medieval Latin partialis, from pars (“part”).^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi, following the FEW, gives a first record in 1576 in Sasbout's Flemish–French dictionary, with the sense of fairness in judging; the adjective impartial is otherwise first found in 1618, in Mellema's dictionary.^[2][7][4]

Semantic evolution

The word first named the quality of a person who judges without taking sides.^[4][2] From the early 20th century it has also named the character of a judgment or decision that shows such a mind.^[4] It is the opposite of partialité, which was used for a faction until the 17th century and has had its modern sense of bias since 1611.^[6][8]

The adverb impartialement followed in 1743.^[5]

Timeline

• 1576 – Impartial and impartialité are recorded in Sasbout's Flemish–French dictionary.^[2][5][6]
• 1611 – Partialité takes its modern sense of bias.^[6]
• 1618 – Impartial appears in Mellema's dictionary.^[2]
• 1743 – The adverb impartialement is recorded.^[5]
• Early 20th century – The word is used of a judgment as well as of a person.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. impartiality, the quality of a person who judges without bias, fairness: l'impartialité d'une arbitre, donner son avis en toute impartialité.^[2][8][9]
2. The fairness of a judgment, verdict or decision: l'impartialité d'un rapport.^[4][10]

Related words

• impartial
• impartialement
• partial
• partialité

References

1. ^ a b c 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. ^ 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 7, 675a
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
10. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)