infaillible

Forms

infaillible (plural infaillibles)^[1] Middle French infallible.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin īnfallibilis (“that cannot be mistaken”), a Late Latin word of the 7th century used of the Church and the pope.^[2][4][1][5] It is formed from in- (“not”) and fallō (“to deceive, to fail”).^[2][6][4] The French form was adapted after faillible.^[4][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the 14th century, as infallible, in the poem Nature à l'alchimie errante, for a substance that no fire can alter: Est infaillible à toute espreuve.^[7][3][4]

Semantic evolution

In the 15th century Chastellain applied it to God, whose existence is necessary (Dieu infaillible et irremuable).^[2][3][7] From 1580 (Montaigne) it meant “that cannot fail to happen”, and so of a remedy or method sure to succeed (Molière, 1669).^[3][4][2] It was used of what cannot deceive (before 1662, Pascal).^[3][4]

The TLFi dates the sense “that cannot be mistaken” to before 1442 (savoir infallible, Pierre de Nesson), while Rey dates the modern common use to 1669.^[2][3] In Catholic usage it is said of the Church in matters of faith.^[7] The noun infaillibilité appeared first in a religious context, in 1558.^[3]

Timeline

• 14th century – Nature à l'alchimie errante uses it for “unalterable”.^[7][4]
• Before 1442 – Pierre de Nesson writes of savoir infallible.^[2]
• 3rd quarter of the 15th century – Chastellain calls God infaillible.^[2][8]
• 1558 – Infaillibilité is recorded of the Church.^[3]
• 1580 – Montaigne uses it for “certain to happen”.^[4][3]
• Before 1662 – Pascal uses it for “that cannot deceive”.^[4][3]
• 1669 – Molière writes of an infaillible remède.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of a person: who cannot be mistaken, infallible; in Catholic doctrine, of the Church or the pope in matters of faith.^[2][7][1]
2. Of a thing: that cannot deceive, sure: un indice infaillible.^[9][2]
3. Certain to give the desired result: un remède infaillible.^[9][7]
4. (dated) Certain to happen, inevitable.^[9][4][1]

Word family

• infaillibilité
• infailliblement

Related words

• faillible
• faillir
• Late Latin infallibilis

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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 e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 388a
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e f g Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
9. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert