persévérance

Forms

persévérance f (plural persévérances)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin persevērantia (“constancy, persistence”),^[2][1][3] from persevērāns, the present participle of persevērō (“to persist”).^[4][5][3] Within French it can be analysed as persévérer with the suffix -ance.^[1]

Cognate with Old Occitan perseveransa, Spanish perseverancia and Italian perseveranza.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the second half of the 12th century in Benoît de Sainte-Maure, meaning “continuity of a state of things”;^[2][3][4] the TLFi dates the passage, in the Chronique des ducs de Normandie, to about 1175, while Rey and the Grand Robert give 1160.^[2][3][4]

Semantic evolution

In the early 13th century it took the sense “quality of one who stands firm in a resolution”, found in Gautier de Coinci about 1225,^[2][3] and in the same century the moral quality of pursuing a task without faltering, personified as Perseverance in Raoul de Houdenc's Voie de Paradis.^[2][6] In the language of religion it has meant “constancy in the faith” since about 1250;^[3] persévérance finale, perseverance to the end of life, is found in Bossuet (1670),^[5][6] and the catéchisme de persévérance, the religious teaching Catholic children follow after their first communion, is recorded from 1868.^[3][6] The sense “action of persevering” dates from Amyot (1559).^[2][5]

Timeline

• 1160 – The date Rey and the Grand Robert give for the first record.^[3][4]
• c. 1175 – Benoît de Sainte-Maure uses it for the continuity of a state of things.^[2]
• c. 1225 – Gautier de Coinci uses it for firmness of resolve.^[2]
• 13th century – Perseverance is personified in the Voie de Paradis.^[2][6]
• c. 1250 – Used for constancy in the faith.^[3]
• 1559 – Amyot uses it for the action of persevering.^[2][6]
• 1670 – Persévérance finale in Bossuet.^[5]
• 1868 – Catéchisme de persévérance is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. The action of persevering, the conduct of one who keeps on: la persévérance dans l’effort.^[7][2][5]
2. perseverance, steadfastness: the quality of pursuing a task without faltering until it is done.^[7][5][2]
3. (religion) Constancy in the faith;^[7][6][3] catéchisme de persévérance, the religious teaching followed after first communion.^[7][6][3]

Related words

• persévérer
• persévérant
• Latin persevērō

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