prohibitif

Forms

prohibitif (feminine prohibitive, masculine plural prohibitifs, feminine plural prohibitives)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French prohiber + -if as a learned word, built on the stem of Latin prohibitum, the supine of prohibeō (“to hold back, forbid”).^[2][3][4] Bloch and Wartburg take the stem from the past participle prohibitus instead,^[5] and the Grand Robert simply from the French verb.^[6] The Latin verb is formed from prō (“forward”) and habeō (“to have, hold”).^[5]

Littré notes that the 16th century said prohibitoire in the same sense.^[7] Cognate with Old Occitan prohibitiu, Spanish prohibitivo and Italian proibitivo.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi's first record is a royal ordinance of Louis XII dated 1506, where it means “that forbids”;^[2] Bloch and Wartburg, the Grand Robert and the GLLF date the word to 1503.^[5][6][4]

Semantic evolution

It is the only derivative of prohiber still in living use, and first qualified what the law forbids.^[3] In 1760 Mirabeau applied it to economic measures that hinder trade (police prohibitive), and it came to describe customs duties so high that they amount to a ban on the goods.^[2][3][8]

From that use it passed into everyday language for a price so high that it puts buyers off: the DHLF dates this to 1923, the TLFi to 1927 (prix prohibitif, in Gide) and the GLLF to the Académie of 1935.^[3][2][4] Grammar has used particule prohibitive for the negative ne since d'Olivet in 1738.^[2][7]

English prohibitive is older than the French word, recorded from the early 15th century and taken from Medieval Latin prohibitivus.^[9]

Timeline

• 1503 – The earliest date given by Bloch and Wartburg, the Grand Robert and the GLLF.^[5][6][4]
• 1506 – An ordinance of Louis XII uses it for “that forbids”.^[2][3]
• 1738 – D'Olivet speaks of the particule prohibitive in grammar.^[2][7]
• 1760 – Mirabeau uses it of measures that restrict free trade.^[2][3]
• 1923 – First use for an excessive price, according to the DHLF.^[3]
• 1927 – Prix prohibitif is recorded in Gide.^[2][8]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (law) That forbids something by law: des mesures prohibitives.^[8][10]
2. Relating to prohibition as an economic policy: régime prohibitif, système prohibitif.^[8][7]
3. Of customs duties or tariffs: so high that they amount to banning the goods.^[8][10][4]
4. Of a price: too high, excessive, beyond most buyers: Le loyer de cet appartement est devenu prohibitif.^[10][4]
5. (grammar) Expressing a prohibition: la particule prohibitive, the particle ne.^[7][2]

Related words

• prohiber
• prohibition
• Latin prohibeō
• English prohibitive

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e f Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)