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inéligible

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Etymology and origin of the French word inéligible

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1723 before 1723, Claude Fleury, Histoire ecclésiastique More words from the 18th century
Ultimate origin
Latin eligibilis

Pronunciation

  • /i.ne.li.ʒibl/[1]

Forms

inéligible (plural inéligibles)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French in- + éligible.[2][1][3] The Grand Robert and Rey see the model of Medieval Latin ineligibilis, recorded in 1216.[4][5][2] The adjective éligible itself is from Latin eligibilis, related to élire.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Claude Fleury's Histoire ecclésiastique (before 1723), cited by the Dictionnaire de Trévoux in 1752, meaning “not able to be elected”.[2][4][7]

Semantic evolution

The word took its modern political sense during the Revolution, of someone who does not meet the conditions to stand for election.[5][2] Its derivative inéligibilité is found once in 1519 and was taken up again in 1791.[2][5][6]

Timeline

  • Before 1723 – Fleury uses inéligible.[4][5]
  • 1752 – The Dictionnaire de Trévoux records it.[2][7][6]
  • 1791 – Inéligibilité reappears in a decree.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Not eligible: not meeting the conditions required to stand for or be chosen in an élection.[2][8][7]

Word family

  • inéligibilité
  • éligible
  • éligibilité
  • rééligible
  • élire

References

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

“Inéligible.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/in%C3%A9ligible. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·