progressif

Forms

progressif (feminine progressive, masculine plural progressifs, feminine plural progressives)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin prōgredior (“to go forward”), a learned formation on its supine prōgressum with the suffix -if.^[2][3][4] Wiktionary takes it instead as borrowed from Latin prōgressīvus.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Jean Corbichon's translation of the Propriétés des choses (1372) uses it in the sense “that makes one move forward”.^[4][5][2]

Semantic evolution

For a long time it meant only “that makes one move”, as in mouvement progressif (1671), an animal's power to move itself, now out of use.^[3][2] After 1750, under the influence of the scientific uses of progression, it came to describe what goes on regularly and continuously (1763) and what develops by degrees (1793), and it was specialized in medicine (paralysie progressive, 1858) and linguistics (1931).^[3][2]

The political sense “that brings progress” (1770) and the use for a supporter of progress (1815, as a noun 1830) gave way to progressiste.^[3][2] Meanwhile it took the sense “that advances” (1800), used in logic (1842) and botany (racine progressive, 1817).^[3][2] The impôt progressif, a tax with rising rates, is recorded from 1842.^[6]

Timeline

• 1372 – Corbichon uses it for “that makes one move forward”.^[4][5]
• 1671 – Mouvement progressif.^[2][3]
• 1753 – The adverb progressivement.^[2][3]
• 1763 – Marmontel uses it of what goes on regularly and continuously.^[2][3]
• 1770 – D'Holbach uses it for “that brings progress”.^[2][3]
• 1793 – “By degrees”, in the title of a work on progressive taxation.^[2]
• 1815 – Benjamin Constant uses it of a supporter of progress.^[2][3]
• 1817 – Racine progressive in botany.^[2]
• 1833 – The derivative progressivité.^[2][3]
• 1842 – Impôt progressif in the Académie's supplement.^[6]
• 1858 – Paralysie progressive in medicine.^[2][3]
• 1931 – Conjugaison progressive in a grammar of English.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (obsolete) That makes one move forward.^[7][2]
2. That grows or develops.^[7]
3. (dated) In politics, favouring progress, progressive.^[7][2]
4. Rising by degrees: impôt progressif, a progressive tax.^[7][8]
5. Gradual, going on regularly and continuously: une amélioration progressive, paralysie progressive.^[7][8]
6. (linguistics) Expressing an action in progress.^[7][2]

Word family

• progressivement

Related words

• progrès
• progresser
• progression

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 m n o p q r s 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
7. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)