patriote

Forms

patriote m or f by sense (plural patriotes)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin patriōta (“fellow countryman”),^[2][3][1] which is from Ancient Greek πατριώτης (patriṓtēs, “of the same country”).^[1][4] The Latin word comes from the adjective patrius (“of the father”), from pater, with a Greek ending.^[3] The sense “one who loves his country” owes much to English: “good patriot” and “true patriot” were borrowed from French in the early 17th century and shortened to patriot (1699), which French took back in the 18th century.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Jean Chartier's Histoire de Charles VII (second half of the 15th century) uses it in the Latin sense “compatriot”: leurs citoyens et patriotes.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The first sense gave way to compatriote.^[3] Perhaps through phrases such as bon patriote “good fellow citizen” (1562), it took, after patrie, the meaning “person who loves and devotedly serves his country” (1756).^[3][2] During the Revolution it named the citizen who opposed the aristocrats and the Ancien Régime (1789), often an armed citizen, nearly a synonym of sans-culotte.^[3][2]

The word was later used of various movements defending the nation, at the time of the Dreyfus affair, in the Second World War and in wars of national liberation.^[3] In Canadian history the Patriotes were the party of Lower Canada opposed to British rule, and in particular the insurgents of 1837–1838.^[3][1]

Timeline

• 2nd half of the 15th century – Jean Chartier uses it for “compatriot”.^[2]
• 1562 – Bon patriote in a letter of Catherine de Médicis.^[2]
• 1699 – English patriot is recorded, shortened from good patriot.^[2]
• 1749 – The derivative patriotisme is formed.^[3]
• 1756 – First found for a person who loves and serves his country.^[2][3]
• 1789 – Used for a supporter of the Revolution.^[2][6]
• 1899 – Clemenceau uses the derivative patriotard.^[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A patriot, a person who loves and serves his or her country.^[7][5]
2. (history) A supporter of the Revolution in 1789–1790.^[7][5]
3. (Canada, history) A member of the Patriote party of Lower Canada or an insurgent of 1837–1838.^[3][1]
4. (obsolete) A compatriote.^[7][5]

Adjective

1. Patriotic: être très patriote.^[7][1]

Word family

• patriotique
• patriotisme
• patrioterie
• patriotard

Related words

• patrie
• compatriote
• Latin patriōta

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert