Etymologically
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intéressant

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 12:51. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɛ̃.te.ʁɛ.sɑ̃/[1]
  • IPA: /ɛ̃.te.ʁe.sɑ̃/[1]

Forms

intéressant (feminine intéressante, masculine plural intéressants, feminine plural intéressantes)[1] Feminine intéressante.[1]

Etymology

It is the present participle of intéresser used as an adjective.[2][3][4] The verb (1356) is formed on intérêt, after Latin interesse (“to be of importance”);[5] The noun itself comes from the Latin impersonal form meaning “it matters”, used as a noun.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The adjective is first recorded by the Académie in 1718, in the sense “that holds the attention, captures the mind”.[3][2][5]

Semantic evolution

The verb had meant “to wrong, compromise” in law (1356) and “to hold the attention” in Montaigne (1588).[5] The Encyclopédie (1765) applies the adjective to persons who attract by their mind or personality, and to what touches the heart and deserves sympathy;[3] Zola uses the pejorative sense of someone who tries to attract notice.[3] The sense “advantageous, profitable” appears in 1873, as does the euphemism état intéressant for pregnancy (position intéressante, 1878).[3]

Timeline

  • 1356 – The verb intéresser, in law.[5]
  • 1588 – “To hold the attention”, Montaigne.[5]
  • 1718 – Intéressant, Académie.[3]
  • 1765 – Of persons, and “touching”, Encyclopédie.[3]
  • 1873 – “Advantageous”, état intéressant.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. interesting, that holds the attention: un livre intéressant, il serait intéressant de….[4][3][1]
  2. Of a person: attractive by personality or mind; pejoratively, faire l'intéressant, to show off.[4][3]
  3. Deserving interest or sympathy.[4][3]
  4. Advantageous, profitable.[3]
  5. (dated) Être dans un état intéressant: to be pregnant.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  4. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d e 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
  6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France