jurisprudence

Forms

jurisprudence f (uncountable)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin iūrisprūdentia (“science of law”),^[2][3][4][1] a compound of iūs (“law, justice”) and prūdentia (“knowledge, competence”), which were already used together in classical times.^[2][3][5] Unlike juridiction, it kept the etymological ⟨s⟩.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1562, in an Advertissement on the reform of the University of Paris, meaning law, the science of laws.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The sense “science of law” has become dated.^[3][6] From the early 17th century (Cotgrave, 1611) the word took the more precise sense of the body of decisions of the courts on a matter or in a country, seen as a source of law.^[3][7] Furetière (1690) used it for the maxims established at the Palais by solemn judgments, and the Trévoux dictionary (1752) for a court's way of interpreting the laws.^[2][7]

The phrase faire jurisprudence, of a judgment that sets an authority, dates from 1804 (Picard).^[2][3] Familiar speech sometimes uses the word figuratively for a custom or usage.^[3] The adjective jurisprudentiel dates from 1874.^[3]

Timeline

• 1562 – It is used for the science of law.^[2][3][4]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records the sense “body of court decisions”.^[3][7]
• 1690 – Furetière records la jurisprudence des arrests.^[2]
• 1752 – The Trévoux dictionary gives a court's manner of interpreting the laws.^[7]
• 1804 – Picard writes cela fait jurisprudence.^[2][3]
• 1874 – The adjective jurisprudentiel is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (dated) The science of law, jurisprudence.^[6][2][7]
2. The body of decisions of the courts on a matter or in a country, as a source of law, case law: Le tribunal a suivi la jurisprudence de la Cour de cassation.^[6][8][1]
3. The way in which a given court usually decides a question.^[9][10]
4. Faire jurisprudence: to set a precedent, to carry authority.^[6][8][10]
5. (familiar, figurative) A custom or usage.^[3]

Related words

• juridique
• prudence
• jurisprudentiel
• Latin iūs
• Latin prūdentia

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 l m n 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 Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
9. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
10. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)