insurger

Forms

insurger^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin īnsurgō (“to rise up, to rise to attack”), from in- and surgō (“to rise, stand up”).^{[2][3][4][1][5]} The Grand Robert and the GLLF analyse the simple verb as sub- and regō (“to guide”).^[6][4] An isolated form insurgir is found in 1414.^[2][3] After being rare for three centuries, the verb was taken up again in 1792 under the influence of insurgent.^[2][3][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1474, as soy insurger “to rise against authority”, in an instruction of Louis XI.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The verb entered French with its modern sense of rising against authority, but it was rare between Cotgrave (1611) and 1792, when it returned under the influence of insurgent, the word made popular by the American insurgents.^[2][4][7][3] The past participle insurgé is used as an adjective from 1790 and as a noun, “rebel”, from 1792.^[2][3] The transitive use, “to stir up to revolt” (1797, Chateaubriand), still recorded by Littré, has gone out of use, while s'insurger remains current.^[3][2] By extension it means to protest against anything felt to be unjust (1857, Flaubert).^[4]

English had an obsolete verb insurge, taken from the French verb.^[8]

Timeline

• 1414 – An isolated s'insurgir is found.^[2][3]
• 1474 – Soy insurger appears in an instruction of Louis XI.^[2][3]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records insurger.^[9][4]
• 1790 – Insurgé “in revolt” is used by Barnave.^[2]
• 1792 – The verb comes back into use, and insurgé is used as a noun.^[2][3]
• 1797 – Chateaubriand uses the transitive construction.^[3][2]
• 1857 – Flaubert uses it for protesting against something.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. (reflexive) To rise up or revolt against authority: la province s'insurgea contre le gouverneur.^[10][9][1]
2. (reflexive, by extension) To protest strongly against something: s'insurger contre une injustice.^[10][4][1]
3. (transitive, dated) To stir up to revolt: insurger une province.^[2][9]

Word family

• insurgé

Related words

• insurgent
• insurrection
• surgir
• Latin īnsurgō

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 l m 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ 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
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 4, 731a
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
10. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert