infériorité

Forms

infériorité f (plural infériorités)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French inférieur + -ité, remodelled after Latin inferior (“lower”).^[2][3][4] Rey and the Grand Robert explain it as a remaking of inférieurité, recorded in 1538 for the lower situation of a thing.^[5][4] Littré compares Italian inferiorità.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Montaigne uses it in the Essais (1588) for the state of what is lower in rank or merit.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

From Montaigne's sense of being lower in rank, value or merit came a use in grammar: Littré has the comparatif d'infériorité in 1863.^[5][3] The concrete sense “lower position” of a thing, once that of the old form inférieurité, is recorded again in Littré from 1866 and is now rare.^[2][5][7] Psychology brought sentiment d'infériorité, first found in Proust in 1922, and complexe d'infériorité.^[2][5]

Timeline

• 1588 – Montaigne uses infériorité.^[2][5]
• 1863 – Littré records comparatif d'infériorité.^[5][3]
• 1866 – Littré records the sense “lower position”.^[2]
• 1922 – Proust writes of a sentiment d'infériorité.^[2][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (rare) A lower position or level.^[7][2][6]
2. The state of being inferior in rank, strength, value or merit: infériorité numérique; in grammar, comparatif d'infériorité, superlatif d'infériorité.^[7][2][3]
3. Sentiment d'infériorité, complexe d'infériorité: the painful feeling of being inferior to others, an inferiority complex.^[7][5]
4. Something that makes one inferior, a disadvantage or handicap.^[7]

Related words

• inférieur
• Latin inferior

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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert