limpide

Forms

limpide (plural limpides)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin limpidus (“clear, transparent, pure”).^[2][3][4][1] Rey notes that the Latin adjective is rare and appears relatively late, which suggests a dialect origin, perhaps Osco-Umbrian; a blend of lympha (“water”) and liquor (“liquid”) has also been proposed.^[3] Littré reports two older views: a nasalized form of liquidus, or a link with Ancient Greek λάμπω (lámpō, “to shine”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Octovien de Saint-Gelais uses it of water in his translation of the Aeneid (1509, printed 1529): clere et limpide, “clear and limpid”.^[2][3][6] The GLLF dates the same text before 1502,^[7] and Bloch and Wartburg to the 15th century.^[4]

Semantic evolution

The word was slow to take hold: it was still rare in the 17th century;^[3] Richelet condemned it in 1680 as a word mangled from Latin, and the Académie admitted it only in the fourth edition of its dictionary, in 1762.^[3] It then became common, first in the literal sense, then figuratively from 1834,^[3][2] for a style or an explanation that is perfectly clear; the GLLF has a figurative use of a look or a sky from Lamennais (1826).^[7]

The noun limpidité (1680) was borrowed from Late Latin limpiditas, and the adverb limpidement was formed in French in 1835.^[3][2]

Timeline

• 1509 – Octovien de Saint-Gelais writes of water clere et limpide.^[2][3]
• 1680 – Richelet condemns the word as a Latinism;^[3] limpidité is recorded.^[3]
• 1762 – The fourth edition of the Académie's dictionary admits it.^[3]
• 1826 – Lamennais uses it figuratively.^[7]
• 1834 – Boiste records the figurative sense.^[2][3]
• 1835 – Limpidement appears, in Guérin's Journal.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Perfectly transparent, with nothing to cloud it (of water, air, glass): l'eau limpide d'un torrent.^[8][2][1]
2. By extension, pure and clear (of a look, a voice, a sky).^[8][7]
3. (figurative) Perfectly clear and intelligible: un exposé limpide.^[8][2][5]

Word family

• limpidement

Related words

• limpidité
• Latin limpidus

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 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. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert