instigation

Forms

instigation f (plural instigations)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin īnstīgātiō (“a stirring up, incitement”),^[2][3][1][4] formed on the supine of īnstīgō (“to urge on”).^[3][5][4][6] The TLFi notes that in Late Latin legal language the word already had the specific sense “instigation”.^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1332, in the criminal register of Saint-Martin-des-Champs, in the phrase à l'instigation de “at the urging of”.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

The phrase à l'instigation de (qqn) “at someone's pressing suggestion” came first and has stayed in common use, while the noun used alone for the act of urging someone to do something is rare.^[4][7] Littré's 14th-century quotations show the phrase in royal letters, in one with enortement “exhortation”, and Bersuire used the noun alone in the mid-14th century.^[6][5] Froissart wrote par le pourchas et instigation in the 15th century.^[6] The variant sur l'instigation de is recorded in 1962.^[5]

Timeline

• 1332 – A l'instigation de appears in the criminal register of Saint-Martin-des-Champs.^[2][3]
• c. 1355 – Bersuire uses the noun alone.^[5]
• 15th century – Froissart uses it of the people of Bruges.^[6]
• 1962 – Larousse records sur l'instigation de.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (rare) The act of urging someone to do something, incitement.^[7][5]
2. À l'instigation de, sur l'instigation de: at the suggestion or under the influence of someone: Ils ont agi à l'instigation de leur chef.^[7][8][5]
3. Obéir aux instigations de quelqu'un: to follow someone's advice or prompting.^[8]

Related words

• instigateur
• instiguer
• instinct
• Latin īnstīgātiō

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)