inconstant

Forms

inconstant (feminine inconstante, masculine plural inconstants, feminine plural inconstantes)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin inconstāns (“inconstant, inconsistent, changeable”), used of people and things.^[2][3][4][5] The Latin word is formed from in- (“not”) and cōnstāns (“steady, consistent”),^[3][6][7] the present participle of cōnstō (“to stand firm”), from com- and stō (“to stand”).^[6] It is the opposite of constant, and inconstance was borrowed from inconstantia a little earlier, about 1220.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Jean de Meun's part of the Roman de la Rose (1269–1278), meaning not steady in one's conduct.^[2] The Grand Robert, the GLLF and the DHLF date it 1265.^[3][6][8]

Semantic evolution

From not steady in conduct the adjective was applied about 1480 to a fickle lover.^[2] From the 16th century it was also used of things, for what is liable to change, as in Ronsard (1550), and as a noun for an inconstant person (1560).^[2][8] In the 16th century the word and inconstance became terms of love above all; the pairing of constancy and inconstancy, tied to the baroque and classical idea of love, has been old-fashioned since the 19th century, and the Petit Robert labels both main senses dated or literary.^[8][9] Littré also records a natural-history sense, for zoological or botanical characters that are not fixed.^[7] English inconstant (about 1400) came from the Old French word.^[10]

Timeline

• 1265 – Date given by the Grand Robert and the DHLF.^[3][8]
• 1269–1278 – Jean de Meun uses it in the Roman de la Rose.^[2]
• c. 1400 – English inconstant is recorded.^[10]
• c. 1480 – Used of a fickle lover, by Coquillart.^[2]
• 1550 – Ronsard uses it of changing things.^[2]
• 1560 – First used as a noun, by Grévin.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (dated or literary) Fickle, changeable in opinions, feelings or conduct.^[9][2]
2. (in love) Unfaithful, flighty.^[9][7]
3. (dated or literary) Liable to change, variable, of things such as the weather.^[9][7]

Noun

1. (dated) An inconstant person, especially in love.^[9][7]

Word family

• inconstamment

Related words

• constant
• inconstance
• Latin inconstāns

References

1. ^ 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 1079b
6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com