irrévérence

Forms

irrévérence f (plural irrévérences)^[1] Old and Middle French inreverence, recorded from 1279 to 1429.^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin irreverentia (“disrespect, licence, excess”),^[5][3][2][1] a derivative of irreverēns (“disrespectful”), formed of in- and reverēns, the present participle of revereor (“to revere”).^[3][6]

The Latin word had also come down into Old French as enrievreté “obstinacy” (about 1165), later enrieveté “disorder, dissipation” (14th century).^[3] Littré compares Spanish irreverencia and Italian irreverenza.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in a 13th-century manuscript of the Bible, translating irreverentia in Ecclesiasticus 25:29, in the sense “lack of respect, insolence”.^[5]

Semantic evolution

The variant inreverence is recorded in 1279 and was still in use in 1429;^[3][2] the form irreverence is found about 1398 in the Ménagier de Paris, where wives' inobedience et irreverence towards their husbands is blamed.^[4][7]

From the general sense “lack of respect” the word came to name, by metonymy, a disrespectful word or act (une irrévérence), first in a Tournai document of 1429.^[5][3] Today it is somewhat dated or literary.^[8] English took irreverence in the mid-14th century, from Old French or directly from Latin.^[6] The adjective irrévérencieux is derived from it.^[1]

Timeline

• 13th century – A Bible manuscript has irreverence “lack of respect”.^[5]
• 1279 – The variant inreverence is recorded.^[2][3]
• c. 1398 – The Ménagier de Paris uses irreverence.^[4][7]
• 1429 – Inreverence is used of a disrespectful word, at Tournai.^[5]
• 1643 – Rotrou uses the form irrévérence for a disrespectful act or word.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (dated or literary) Lack of reverence or respect; disrespect, impertinence.^[8][5]
2. A disrespectful word or act.^[8][4]

Word family

• irrévérencieux

Related words

• révérence
• révérer
• irrévérent
• Latin irreverentia
• English irreverence

References

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