irrévocable

Forms

irrévocable (plural irrévocables)^[1] Middle French inrevocable (1357), irrevocable (about 1460).^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin irrevocābilis (“that cannot be changed, irreparable”), often written inrevocabilis in Latin.^[2][3][5][6] The Latin word is formed from in- (“not”) and revocābilis, which was often used with a negation, from revocō (“to call back, revoke”).^[3][4][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi's first record is don inrevocable “irrevocable gift” in a deed of 16 April 1357;^[2][8] Bloch and Wartburg and the Petit Robert date inrévocable from 1315.^[5][9] The DHLF and the GLLF point out that the adverb irrévocablement is recorded in 1266, so the adjective must be older.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

The form with irr- is found about 1460 in the Mystère du siège d'Orléans: Et par edit irrevocable “and by irrevocable edict”.^[4][7] The word has kept its legal sense, as in donation irrévocable, and was extended to vows, oaths and decisions that bind for good.^[9][4] From 1655 (Bossuet) it was also said of time that cannot be called back.^[4][9] Applied to a person, one who cannot be removed from office, it is rare.^[2]

Timeline

• 1266 – The adverb irrévocablement is recorded.^[3]
• 1315 – Inrévocable according to Bloch and Wartburg and the Petit Robert.^[5][9]
• 1357 – Don inrevocable in a deed.^[2]
• c. 1460 – Irrevocable in the Mystère du siège d'Orléans.^[4][8][7]
• 1534 – The noun irrévocabilité appears.^[3][5]
• 1655 – Bossuet uses it of time that cannot return.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. That cannot be revoked or annulled, on which there is no going back, définitif: donation irrévocable, une décision irrévocable.^{[2][9][10][11]}
2. (literary) That cannot be called back or return: le temps irrévocable.^[9][4]
3. (rare) Of a person, who cannot be removed from office.^[2]

Noun

1. L’irrévocable: what cannot be undone, fate.^[9]

Word family

• irrévocabilité
• irrévocablement

Related words

• révocable
• révoquer
• révocation
• Latin irrevocābilis

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 4, 816a
7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
11. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)