obsolète

Forms

obsolète (plural obsolètes)^[1] Earlier spellings obsolet (1596, 1677) and obsolete (1750).^[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin obsolētus (“gone out of fashion, worn out”), borrowed several times: as ⟨obsolet⟩ in 1596 (Hulsius) and in 1677, when Miège glossed the English word obsolete, then as ⟨obsolete⟩ in 1750 (Prévost).^[2][3][4] The Latin word is the past participle, used as an adjective, of obsolēscō (“to go out of use”).^[2][3]

The origin of the Latin verb is obscure: Rey finds neither an analysis with olēscō (“to grow”) nor one as an inchoative of soleō (“to be accustomed”) satisfactory, and supposes contamination with exolēscō (“to fade, fall into disuse”).^[3] Littré had derived it from ob and the verb “to be accustomed”.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1596, in Hulsius, as obsolet “out of use”.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

The word stayed rare: the Grand Robert dates the spelling obsolète from Prévost in 1755 and notes that it was taken up again in the 19th century, Littré treating it as a neologism of some grammarians for words out of use.^[7][5] It belonged to a literary or archaizing style, mainly in religion and linguistics, and was used jokingly of people.^[3] From 1868 naturalists used it for markings that are barely visible.^[3][6]

In the 20th century the economic sense “superseded” came from the English word obsolete; the present uses extend it.^[3] The same English influence brought obsolescence (1955, R. Barre) and obsolescent (1960).^[3]

Timeline

• 1596 – Obsolet appears in Hulsius.^[2][6]
• 1677 – Miège uses obsolet to translate the English word.^[2]
• 1750 – Prévost has the form obsolete.^[2]
• 1868 – Littré records the natural-history sense “barely marked”.^[6][3]
• 20th century – The sense “superseded” is taken from English.^[3]
• 1955 – Obsolescence is used by R. Barre.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (linguistics, literary) No longer in use, obsolete: une tournure obsolète.^[8][2]
2. (economics) Outdated, superseded by something newer: un ordinateur obsolète.^[8][3]
3. (computing) Deprecated.^[1]
4. (natural history) Barely visible, faint: strie obsolète.^[2][5]

Related words

• obsolescent
• obsolescence
• désuet
• Latin obsolētus

References

1. ^ a b c 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. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 7, 286b
5. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert