perceptif

Forms

perceptif (feminine perceptive, masculine plural perceptifs, feminine plural perceptives)^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned formation, from Latin perceptum (“perceived”) (the supine) with the suffix -if.^[2][3][4] Medieval Latin had perceptivus, recorded about 1250 in England.^[2][3] The Grand Robert and the GLLF derive it instead from perception.^[5][6]

Cognate with Occitan perceptiu and Spanish perceptivo.^[7] English perceptive “having the power of perceiving” is recorded from 1656.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Littré quotes Nicole Oresme's Éthiques in the 14th century: Prudence est perceptive et commande, “prudence perceives and commands”, in the sense “that perceives, that understands”.^[7][6][5] The TLFi's first record of that sense is an isolated one in Jean Molinet's Mystère de saint Quentin, about 1482.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

After these early uses the word disappears from the record, and returns in philosophy with the meaning “relating to the perception of objects by the senses” in 1754 (Formey), later passing into psychology.^[3][2] It appears in phrases such as champ perceptif and activité perceptive, the latter used in Piaget's theory of perception.^[2][6]

The first sense, “particularly able to perceive”, was taken up again in literary use at the end of the 19th century by Huysmans (1884).^[3][6] The adverb perceptivement is found in Sartre in 1939.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 1370 – Oresme uses perceptive of prudence.^[6][5][7]
• c. 1482 – Molinet uses it in the sense “that understands”.^[2]
• 1754 – Formey uses it of perception by the senses.^[2][3]
• 1884 – Huysmans revives the sense “keen to perceive”.^[3]
• 1939 – Sartre's perceptivement.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (psychology, philosophy) Relating to perception, the act of perceiving: les fonctions perceptives, un trouble perceptif.^[4][2][8]
2. (literary, rare) Especially able to perceive, perceptive.^[6][3]

Related words

• percevoir
• perception
• aperceptif
• Latin percipiō
• English perceptive

References

1. ^ 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. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)