phénoménal

Forms

phénoménal (feminine phénoménale, masculine plural phénoménaux, feminine plural phénoménales)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French phénomène + -al.^[2][1][3][4] Phénomène is from Ancient Greek φαινόμενα (phainómena, “celestial phenomena, things that appear”), from φαίνω (phaínō, “to show, appear”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1803 in Boiste's dictionary, with a reference to Kant, meaning “belonging to or relating to phenomena”.^[2][5][6]

Semantic evolution

The adjective began as a term of philosophy: Kant's distinction between the phenomenal and the noumenal world gave it its first sense, “of the nature of a phenomenon, of the fact perceived by the senses”.^[2][5][7] Bloch and Wartburg note that its meaning then developed in parallel with that of phénomène, which had come to mean anything surprising.^[4] The Académie's supplement of 1827 records the everyday sense “extraordinary, prodigious”, said of the effect of something marvellous.^[2][5]

Littré still marked the word as a neologism and called the sense “surprising” familiar and jocular.^[8] The GLLF dates its use of a remarkable person to the early 20th century.^[6] The adjective gave the philosophical terms phénoménalisme (1823) and phénoménalité (1833), and the adverb phénoménalement (1823).^[5]

Timeline

• 1803 – Boiste records it in its philosophical sense, with a reference to Kant.^[2][6]
• 1823 – The adverb phénoménalement appears in Maine de Biran.^[5]
• 1827 – The Académie's supplement gives the sense “extraordinary”.^[2][6]
• 1833 – Jouffroy uses the derived noun phénoménalité.^[2][5]
• 1873 – Littré still labels the word a neologism.^[8]
• Early 20th century – It is applied to a remarkable person.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (philosophy) Of the nature of a phenomenon, of what is perceived by the senses: monde phénoménal, opposed to the noumenal world in Kant.^[7][6][2]
2. (familiar) Extraordinary, out of the ordinary in size or degree, astonishing: Elle a une mémoire phénoménale.^[7][6]
3. (familiar, rare) Of a person: remarkable of its kind.^[6]

Word family

• phénoménalité
• phénoménalement
• phénoménalisme

Related words

• phénomène
• phénoménologie

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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f g h Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette