nonchaloir

Forms

nonchaloir m (plural nonchaloirs)^[1] Old French nunchaleir, in Wace about 1155.^[2][3] Anglo-Norman spellings include nonchaleir, nounchaloir and nunchaloir.^[4]

Etymology

It is from Old French nonchaloir (“to neglect, disregard”), the infinitive of the verb used as a noun.^[5][6][2] The verb is made up of non (“not”) and chaloir (“to matter, be of concern”).^[5][6][3] The FEW files the word under Latin caleō.^[7]

The verb itself is first found at the end of the 11th century, as nonchalayr and nonchaloyr in Rashi's French glosses.^[5][6] It was mostly used in its participles, nonchalu (“despised”) (1240–1280) and nonchalant, while a personal form such as vous nonchalez (“you neglect”) (about 1428, Alain Chartier) was rare.^[5][6] Littré compares Old Occitan noncaler.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

About 1160 the Eneas has the phrase metre en nonchaloir “to leave neglected, abandon”.^[5][6] The Grand Robert and the GLLF cite the form nunchaleir from Wace about 1155.^[2][3] Littré quotes Rutebeuf: Ai mis mon cors en nonchaloir (“I have neglected my body”).^[8]

Semantic evolution

Between 1160 and 1174 Wace uses the noun for a lack of interest or zeal, indifference.^[5][6] It was still common in the 16th century, for example in Rabelais,^[2] but early in the 17th century it gave way to nonchalance, and Furetière called it an old word in 1690.^[6][5]

It came back early in the 18th century in poetic and literary style (the GLLF names Chaulieu),^[6][3] and the poets of the 19th century took it up again.^[2][9] Today it is a literary or dated synonym of nonchalance.^[9][3]

Timeline

• End of the 11th century – The verb appears as nonchalayr in Rashi's glosses.^[5][6]
• c. 1155 – Wace writes nunchaleir.^[2][3]
• c. 1160 – Metre en nonchaloir “to leave neglected” in the Eneas.^[5]
• 1160–1174 – Wace uses it for indifference.^[5][6]
• c. 1428 – Alain Chartier uses the rare personal form vous nonchalez.^[5][6]
• Early 17th century – It falls out of use in favour of nonchalance.^[6][3]
• 1690 – Furetière marks it as an old word.^[5]
• Early 18th century – It is revived in poetry.^[6][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (literary, dated) Nonchalance, indifference, careless ease.^[9][5][1]
2. (obsolete) idleness, inaction.^[8]

Related words

• nonchalant
• nonchalance
• chaloir

Usage notes

The simple verb chaloir “to matter” has gone out of use except in the archaic phrase peu me chaut and in the noun chaland.^[6]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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 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
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 83b
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert