inné

Forms

inné (feminine innée, masculine plural innés, feminine plural innées)^[1] The earlier, more popular form was enné (1554).^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin innātus (“born in, natural, innate”), the past participle of innāscor (“to be born in”), from in- (“in”) and nāscor (“to be born”).^[2][3][5][1] The Latin word was used mainly in philosophical texts and by Christian authors.^[2][3] Wiktionary calls it semi-learned, and the Grand Robert says it was shaped after né, the past participle of naître.^[1][4] It replaced the more popular form enné, found in the 16th century.^[2][3][1] Rey relates the Latin verb to the Indo-European root of genèse and génital.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The form inné is first recorded by Cotgrave in 1611, in the sense “present from birth”.^[2][5] The form enné is found from 1554.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

The word has kept the sense “possessed from birth”, opposed to acquis.^[3] In philosophy, idées innées (1647, Descartes) are ideas inherent in the human mind and prior to all experience.^[3][5][6] In 20th-century biology it applies to what appears at birth without depending on heredity, and it is also used as a noun, l'inné.^[3][2]

Its derivatives are innéité (1812, in physiology, opposed to heredity) and the philosophical terms innéisme (1907) and innéiste.^[3]

Timeline

• 1554 – The popular form enné is recorded.^[3][4]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records inné.^[2][5]
• 1647 – Descartes speaks of idées innées.^[3][5]
• 1812 – The derivative innéité appears in physiology.^[3]
• 1907 – Innéisme is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. innate, inborn: present in a being from birth rather than acquired: un talent inné pour le dessin.^[7][2][1]
2. (philosophy) Idées innées: ideas inherent in the human mind, prior to all experience.^[7][5][6]

Noun

1. L'inné: what is innate, as opposed to what is acquired.^[3]

Word family

• innéité
• innéisme
• innéiste

Related words

• naître
• né
• acquis
• Latin innātus

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 k l m n o Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert