inconvenance

Forms

inconvenance f (plural inconvenances)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French in- + convenance.^[2][3][4][1] Bloch and Wartburg list it among the derivatives of convenance, from convenir, which is from Latin conveniō (“to come together, agree”).^[5] Littré derives it from inconvenant.^[6] Rey pairs it with the older antonym disconvenance (1488).^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1573, in the Thesaurus Theutonicae linguae, for impertinence or indécence.^[2][3] Cotgrave has it in 1611.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

The word was rare before the 18th century, and the TLFi records it anew in 1752 in d'Argenson's journal, in l'inconvenance de l'invitation.^[3][8][2] It long had the neutral sense of what does not fit or is not opportune, now old.^[2][4] The usual meaning became a lack of propriety, what goes against accepted manners (1802), and then a remark or act of this kind (1845).^[4][8][7]

Timeline

• 1573 – First recorded in the Thesaurus Theutonicae linguae.^[2][5]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records the word.^[2][6]
• 1752 – D'Argenson uses it again.^[2]
• 1802 – The sense “lack of propriety” is dated by the GLLF.^[4]
• 1845 – Bescherelle records the sense “improper remark or act”.^[4][8]

Meanings

Noun

1. (literary) The quality of being improper, an impropriety.^[8][9][10]
2. An improper remark or act: dire des inconvenances.^[8][10]
3. (dated) The quality of what is not suitable or fitting.^[2][4]

Related words

• convenance
• inconvenant
• convenir
• disconvenance

References

1. ^ a b c 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 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
10. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)