insolent

Forms

insolent (feminine insolente, masculine plural insolents, feminine plural insolentes)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin īnsolēns (“unaccustomed, unusual, excessive, arrogant”).^[2][3][4] The Latin adjective is formed from in- (“not”) and solēns (“accustomed”), the present participle of soleō (“to be accustomed”),^[3][5][6] which gave Old French souloir, a verb used until the classical period.^[3] Rey thinks the pejorative sense may owe something to īnsolēscō (“to grow haughty”).^[3]

The word is probably older than its first records, since the adverb insolemment is found in the 14th century.^[3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi dates the first record to 1495, in Jean de Vignay's Miroir historial.^[2] The Anglo-Norman Dictionary has it from 1415 in the sense “giving offence”.^[7]

Semantic evolution

In the 16th century it was used of things one is not used to, events or novelties (1542, nouveauté insolente), a sense later taken over by insolite.^[2][3] Alongside, from the Latin idea of excess, it meant “proud, arrogant” (1545), a sense common in the classical period, when it could also mean “bold, audacious”.^[2][3][8]

In the 17th century the idea of disrespect was added: an insolent, as adjective and noun, was a person whose lack of respect was insulting, and the word also described behaviour showing such insolence (1660).^[3] Insolent de “haughty because of” (1651, Corneille) has gone out of use.^[3][8] From the 19th century (1840) the idea of excess also made it describe what seems a challenge by being extraordinary or superior, such as luxury or success, and it has been used in advertising since about 1960.^[3]

Timeline

• 1495 – First recorded, in Jean de Vignay's Miroir historial.^[2][5]
• 1542 – Used in the sense “unusual” (nouveauté insolente).^[2][3]
• 1545 – First recorded in the sense “proud, arrogant”.^[2][3]
• 1660 – Said of behaviour that shows insolence.^[3]
• 1840 – Used of what is provokingly extraordinary.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Offensively disrespectful, impertinent: un élève insolent avec ses professeurs.^[9][10]
2. Showing insolence: an insolent tone or answer.^[9][10]
3. Arrogant, haughty.^[10][9]
4. (dated, literary) Offending by excessive boldness.^[2][9]
5. Provoking by its extraordinary character: une chance insolente.^[10][3]

Noun

1. An insolent person.^[10][9]

Word family

• insolemment

Related words

• insolence
• insolite
• souloir
• Latin īnsolēns

References

1. ^ a b 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 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. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
8. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b c d e Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)