patriarcal

Forms

patriarcal (feminine patriarcale, masculine plural patriarcaux, feminine plural patriarcales)^[1] Middle French patriarchal (the plural patriarchaus in the 15th century).^[2]

Etymology

In the sense “of a patriarch of the Church” it is borrowed from Ecclesiastical Latin patriarchālis,^[2][3][4][1] found from the end of the 5th century in Avitus.^[2] The Latin adjective is from patriarcha.^[5] In the senses “of the biblical patriarchs” and “simple as the patriarchs' way of life”, the TLFi treats it as formed from French patriarche + -al.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the 15th century, about 1400 according to the Grand Robert, in yglises patriarchaus, churches governed by a patriarch, in a manuscript of the Chroniques de France.^[2][3][5]

Semantic evolution

Richelet recorded trône patriarcal and dignité patriarcale in 1680.^[2] From the 18th century the adjective was used of the patriarchs of the Bible (1752, Trévoux), then from 1755 of a simple, peaceful life like theirs: Voltaire wrote that he ended by leading une vie patriarcale.^[2][5] In the 19th century it took the sociological sense “organized on the principles of patriarchy”.^[4][5] The adverb patriarcalement is recorded from 1763, in Voltaire.^[2][4]

Timeline

• c. 1400 – Yglises patriarchaus in the Chroniques de France.^[2][3]
• 1680 – Richelet records trône patriarcal.^[2]
• 1752 – The Dictionnaire de Trévoux has gouvernement patriarchal, of the biblical patriarchs.^[2][5]
• 1755 – Voltaire writes of leading une vie patriarcale.^[2]
• 1763 – Voltaire uses the adverb patriarcalement.^[2]
• 1833 – Balzac uses it in the social sense, according to the GLLF.^[5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (religion) Of the dignity of a patriarch of the Church: siège patriarcal, croix patriarcale.^[4][6]
2. Of the patriarchs of the Bible; by extension, recalling the simple, peaceful ways of their time: mener une vie patriarcale.^[4][2][6]
3. (sociology) Organized on the principles of patriarchy: société patriarcale.^[4][5]

Word family

• patriarcalement

Related words

• patriarche
• patriarcat
• matriarcal

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette