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irrésistible

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Etymology and origin of the French word irrésistible

Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1687 Nouvelles de la République des Lettres More words from the 17th century
Ultimate origin
Latin resistō

Pronunciation

  • /i.ʁe.zis.tibl/[1]

Forms

irrésistible (plural irrésistibles)[1] Middle French had irresistable “unable to resist” (1478).[2][3]

Etymology

The TLFi takes it as formed from French in- + résistible within French, résistible being a theological term of 1687 derived from the stem of résister.[2][1] Bloch and Wartburg, the Grand Robert and the GLLF instead call it a borrowing from Medieval Latin irresistibilis, and the TLFi notes that a Late Latin irresistibilis is reported.[4][5][6][2] That verb is from Latin resistō (“to stand still, to withstand”).[6][7]

Middle French earlier had irresistable (“that cannot resist”) (1478), formed on resistable (“able to resist”) (14th century).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1687, in Pierre Bayle's Nouvelles de la République des Lettres, in the theological phrase la grace resistible ou irresistible, grace that can or cannot be resisted.[2][6]

Semantic evolution

From theology the word passed into general use in the 18th century: an irresistible curiosity is recorded before 1727, for what compels the mind or the feelings.[2][3] Of a person one cannot resist it is recorded by Féraud in 1787.[2][3][6] Today it is also said of someone charming and of something very funny.[8][9]

Timeline

  • 1478 – Middle French irresistable “unable to resist”.[2]
  • 1687 – Irresistible appears of divine grace.[2][4]
  • before 1727 – Curiosité irresistible shows the general sense.[2][3]
  • 1787 – Féraud records it of a person one cannot resist.[2][6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. That cannot be resisted: une envie irrésistible de dormir.[8][10]
  2. Of a person, charming, seductive.[8][10][9]
  3. Very funny: un acteur irrésistible.[8][9]

Word family

  • irrésistiblement
  • irrésistibilité

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  10. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Irrésistible.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/irr%C3%A9sistible. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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