orthodoxie

Forms

orthodoxie f (plural orthodoxies)^[1]

Etymology

The TLFi and Rey leave open whether it is borrowed from Ancient Greek ὀρθοδοξία (orthodoxía, “right, sensible opinion”) or formed from French orthodoxe + -ie.^[2][3][1] The Grand Robert gives Ecclesiastical Latin orthodoxia as an alternative to the derivation, while Bloch and Wartburg, the GLLF and the Petit Robert derive it from orthodoxe.^[4][5][6][7] That adjective (1431) is from orthodoxus, from Ancient Greek ὀρθόδοξος (orthódoxos), formed with δόξα (dóxa, “opinion”).^[5][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1580, in P. Moreau's Paternelles remonstrances, in theology, for the quality of what is orthodoxe.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense is religious: the doctrine taught officially as the norm of truth in a religion, as in orthodoxie catholique.^[3][2][7] Like orthodoxe, it took its general sense of conformity to a received doctrine in the 18th century, and Fréron writes of an orthodoxie comique before 1776.^[3][2] It came to mean the body of principles accepted in art, science or morals (1787), and in a later religious sense the doctrine of the Eastern Churches (1853, Mérimée).^[7][3]

The antonym hétérodoxie followed in 1700, with Bossuet.^[3]

Timeline

• 1580 – First recorded, in a religious sense.^[2][5]
• before 1776 – Fréron's orthodoxie comique, the general sense.^[2][3]
• 1787 – Used of the principles accepted in a field.^[7]
• 1853 – Mérimée uses it of the doctrine of the Eastern Churches.^[3]
• 1883 – Renan uses it for the body of precepts of a doctrine.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. The doctrines held to be true by the dominant part of a religion and taught officially, as l'orthodoxie catholique.^[7][8][2]
2. The body of principles generally accepted in a field such as art, science or morals.^[7][6]
3. The quality of being orthodox, conformity to a doctrine: orthodoxie marxiste.^[7][8]
4. The doctrine of the Churches of the East.^[3][2]

Related words

• orthodoxe
• hétérodoxie
• hétérodoxe
• Ancient Greek ὀρθοδοξία (orthodoxía)

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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)