persuasif

Forms

persuasif (feminine persuasive, masculine plural persuasifs, feminine plural persuasives)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin persuāsīvus (“persuasive”), an adjective formed in Late Latin on persuāsum, the supine of persuādeō (“to persuade”).^[2][3][4] The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert call the Latin word scholastic.^[5][6] Wiktionary adds that within French it can be analysed as from French persuasion + -if.^[1]

Littré compares Old Occitan persuasiu, Spanish persuasivo and Italian persuasivo.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record, at the end of the 14th century, is argument persuasif in Philippe de Mézières's Songe du Vieil Pelerin, of an argument that has the power to persuade.^[2][8] The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert date it to 1376.^[5][6]

Semantic evolution

At first the word was said only of things: an argument, a reason or a tone able to win someone over.^[2][4] From the late 17th century it was also said of people who have the art of persuading: in 1683 Madame de Maintenon wrote of Bossuet that he was persuasif.^[2][9]

Persuasif displaced several older words of the family: the Middle French noun persuaseur (1530), from Late Latin persuāsor, and the adjectives persuasoire (1546–1675) and persuasible (about 1370).^[4] The adverb persuasivement is recorded about 1565 and was little used before the 19th century.^[4][6]

Timeline

• Late 14th century – Philippe de Mézières writes of an argument persuasif.^[2][8]
• c. 1565 – The adverb persuasivement is first recorded.^[4]
• 1683 – Madame de Maintenon applies the word to a person, Bossuet.^[2][9]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of things: able to persuade or convince; persuasive, as in Elle parlait d'un ton calme et persuasif.^[6][2][7]
2. Of people: skilled at persuading others, convincing, as in Le vendeur s'est montré très persuasif.^[6][2][7]

Word family

• persuasivement

Related words

• persuader
• persuasion
• dissuasif
• Latin persuadeo

Usage notes

The Petit Robert gives dissuasif as its opposite.^[6]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 8, 276b
4. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b Dictionnaire du Moyen Français, version 2015 (DMF 2015), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/dmf
9. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse