implicite

Forms

implicite (plural implicites)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin implicitus (“enfolded, entangled”), one of the past participle forms of implicō (“to enfold, entangle”).^[2][3][4] The Latin verb is formed on plicō (“to fold”), the source of plier.^[1][5] It is related to impliquer.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in La Mer des Histoires (1488), in foy implicite, a faith held without full knowledge of the doctrine.^[2][3] Calvin wrote in the 16th century that his opponents had built up “a fancy of faith that they call implicit or wrapped up” (une fantaisie de foi qu'ils appellent implicite ou enveloppée).^[6]

Semantic evolution

After its first, religious use it meant “complicated, tangled” (1549) and “unclear” (1671), senses that have died out.^[2][3] In 1690 Furetière gives it the sense that is the only living one today: contained in a fact or statement without being stated outright.^[2][3] From this sense come its special uses in philosophy, logic and linguistics, and it is the opposite of explicite.^[3] Littré recorded volonté implicite in 1867.^[7]

The adverb implicitement first meant “in combination with other actions” (1488) before following the adjective's senses.^[3]

Timeline

• 1488 – Foy implicite in La Mer des Histoires.^[2]
• 1549 – Used in the sense “complicated, tangled”.^[2]
• 1671 – Pomey records the sense “unclear”.^[2]
• 1690 – Furetière gives the modern sense “understood, not stated”.^[2][3]
• 1867 – Littré records volonté implicite.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Implicit: contained in a fact, act or statement without being stated outright, and able to be inferred from it: une règle implicite.^[5][2][1]
2. Volonté implicite: a wish that is not put into words but can be inferred from a person's conduct.^[5][6]
3. (linguistics) Of part of a statement or text: not expressed but understood from the context.^[2]
4. (religion) Foi implicite: belief in a doctrine on the authority of others, without one's own understanding of it.^[6][2]

Noun

1. L'implicite: what is understood without being said, the unsaid.^[5]

Word family

• implicitement

Related words

• impliquer
• explicite
• plier
• Latin implicō

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse