inexcusable

Forms

inexcusable (plural inexcusables)^[1] Recorded by the Académie in 1694 as an adjective of both genders.^[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin inexcūsābilis (“that cannot be excused”), first recorded in 1402.^[3][4][5] The Latin adjective is formed from in- (“not”) and excūsābilis (“excusable”), from excūsō (“to excuse, justify”), itself from ex- and causa (“cause”).^[6][7] The FEW lists it under the Latin verb, the source of excuser.^[8][9]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is in Jean Gerson's treatise against the Roman de la Rose (1402), where the worst charges are called les plus griefs et plus inexcusables, the most serious and least excusable.^[9][3]

Semantic evolution

Gerson's first record applies it to charges that admit no excuse.^[9] The GLLF dates its use of a person who has no excuse to 1474, in the Mystère de l'incarnation, and its use of a thing that cannot be excused to Montaigne (1588).^[6] The Académie recorded it in 1694 with the example faute inexcusable.^[2]

Rey notes that it is used rather more than the simple excusable, especially in the broad sense “morally without excuse”, like intolérable or inacceptable.^[4] The adverb inexcusablement appeared in 1545 but is rare.^[4][10]

Timeline

• 1402 – Jean Gerson uses inexcusables in his treatise on the Roman de la Rose.^[3][9]
• 1474 – Said of a person in the Mystère de l'incarnation.^[6]
• 1545 – The adverb inexcusablement is recorded.^[4][10]
• 1588 – Montaigne uses it of something that cannot be excused.^[6]
• 1694 – The Académie records it.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of a person: who cannot be excused, without excuse: Après tant d'avertissements, il est inexcusable.^[3][10][11]
2. Inexcusable de + infinitive: having no excuse for doing something: Elle serait inexcusable d'oublier ce rendez-vous.^[3][12]
3. Of an act or fault: that cannot be excused, unforgivable, unjustifiable: un retard inexcusable.^[10][13][12]

Word family

• inexcusablement

Related words

• excuser
• excusable
• excuse
• Latin inexcūsābilis

Usage notes

Faute inexcusable is an old collocation, given by the Académie in 1694 and by Larousse today.^[2][13]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Académie française (1694), Le Dictionnaire de l'Académie françoise, 1st ed., Paris: Coignard
3. ^ a b c d e 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
4. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 286a
9. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire du Moyen Français, version 2015 (DMF 2015), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/dmf
10. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
12. ^ a b Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
13. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)