prétexter

Forms

prétexter^[1]

Etymology

It is a verb formed from French prétexte + -er.^[2][1][3][4] The noun itself is from Latin praetextus, from praetexō.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Bloch and Wartburg date the verb to 1456, without giving the sense;^[3][5] the TLFi's first dated use is in the correspondence of Cardinal de Granvelle in 1566, “to take as a pretext”, and it corrects the date 1556 that other dictionaries give.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

Vaugelas criticised the verb in the 17th century, but it took hold all the same, with a direct object and with de.^[6] The construction prétexter quelque chose de meant “to cover something with a pretext” (1636, Richelieu), then “to use something as a pretext”;^[2][6] the GLLF labels the sense “cover with a specious appearance” classical.^[5] In modern French it means to allege something as an excuse, often with que.^[7][2]

Timeline

• 1456 – Earliest date given by Bloch and Wartburg.^[3]
• 1566 – Used in the correspondence of Cardinal de Granvelle, “to take as a pretext”.^[2]
• 1636 – Prétexter quelque chose de “to cover something with a pretext” is recorded in a text by Richelieu.^[2][5]
• 17th century – Vaugelas criticises the word.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To give something as an excuse or pretext, to allege: prétexter une migraine pour partir tôt.^[7][2][1]
2. Prétexter que (with the indicative): to claim, as an excuse, that: elle a prétexté qu'elle avait un rendez-vous.^[7]
3. (classical) To cover something with a pretext, hide it under a specious appearance.^[5][8]

Related words

• prétexte
• Latin praetextus

References

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