indépendance

Forms

indépendance f (plural indépendances)^[1] First written independance (1610).^[2]

Etymology

It is from French indépendant + -ance.^[2][3][4] The adjective, recorded from 1584, is formed with the prefix in- on dépendant, the present participle of dépendre¹.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Pierre Coton's Institution catholique (1610) uses independance for the absence of dependence.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

By metonymy the word meant an independent power from 1663 (Corneille).^[2][5] In Balzac (before 1850) it was also a card-playing term, for taking several tricks at boston, a use that has died out.^[5][6] Its political uses were already important in the 18th century with the revolt of the English colonies in America, the guerre d'indépendance; in the 19th century they grew with European nationalism, and in the 20th with the freeing of colonies from empires, beside décolonisation and later autonomie.^[5] From this came indépendantiste and indépendantisme.^[5]

Timeline

• 1610 – Independance in Pierre Coton's Institution catholique.^[2]
• 1663 – Corneille uses it for an independent power.^[2]
• 1669 – Bossuet uses it of a person bound to no one.^[6]
• 1807 – Mme de Staël uses it of a free spirit.^[6]
• before 1850 – Balzac uses it as a card-playing term.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. The state of a person who depends on no one, independence; especially financial independence.^[4][7]
2. Freedom of mind or character, refusal to submit to accepted rules: esprit d'indépendance.^[4]
3. The state of a body or a country not subject to another, sovereignty: l'indépendance de la justice, guerre d'indépendance.^[4][7]
4. The absence of any relation of dependence between things: l'indépendance de deux événements.^[4][7]

Word family

• indépendantisme

Related words

• dépendance
• interdépendance
• indépendant
• dépendre¹

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 Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
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 Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)