protecteur

Forms

protecteur m (plural protecteurs, feminine protectrice)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin prōtēctor (“bodyguard, protector, defender”), a noun formed on the supine of prōtegō (“to protect”), the source of protéger.^[2][3][4] Littré compares Occitan protector, Spanish protector and Italian protettore.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1234, in a charter that names deffenseurs et protecteurs des eglises, “defenders and protectors of the churches”: from the start it meant one who protects.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

In the 16th century the noun became a political title (1547), and in 1657 it was used, adapting the English title, for Cromwell as milord Protecteur.^[2][3] In step with protéger and protection, it came to mean a person who favours an activity (1505) and a patron who furthers someone's interests or career (1678, La Fontaine).^[2][3] From 1832 (Balzac) it was also the man who keeps a woman, a word with quite other social overtones than souteneur.^[2][3] Technical senses for metal sheathing on a ship and for machine guards followed from the second half of the 19th century.^[2][3]

The adjective came fairly late (1717).^[2][3] It took on political and economic senses, as in lois protectrices (1789), système protecteur (1846) and État protecteur (1859), and the name Société protectrice des animaux is recorded from 1857.^[2][3] A condescending manner was un air de protecteur in 1726 and un air protecteur by 1811.^[2] In Quebec the Protecteur du citoyen (1968) is the ombudsman appointed by the National Assembly.^[6]

Timeline

• 1234 – First recorded, in a charter, for one who protects churches.^[2][3]
• 1505 – Used for a person who favours an activity, in Gringore.^[2][3]
• 1547 – Recorded as a political title.^[2][3]
• 1657 – Milord Protecteur names Cromwell.^[2][3]
• 1678 – La Fontaine uses it for a patron who furthers someone's career.^[2][7]
• 1717 – First recorded as an adjective, in Crébillon.^[2][3]
• 1789 – Lois protectrices appears in political economy.^[2][3]
• 1832 – Balzac uses it for the man who keeps a woman.^[2][3]
• 1857 – Société protectrice des animaux is recorded.^[2][3]
• 1968 – The Protecteur du citoyen is created in Quebec.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. A person who protects and defends others, especially the weak and the poor: le protecteur de la veuve et de l'orphelin.^[6][7]
2. (history) A title of government, especially that of Cromwell as Lord Protector of England.^[6][2]
3. A patron who furthers someone's interests or career.^[6][7]
4. A person who encourages an art or activity, a mécène.^[6][5]
5. The man who keeps a woman, and, as a familiar euphemism, a pimp.^[6]
6. (Quebec) Protecteur du citoyen: the ombudsman of the National Assembly.^[6][1]
7. (technical) A guard or casing that encloses the parts of a machine.^[2]

Adjective

1. Protective, giving protection: un film protecteur, un génie protecteur.^[6][1]
2. (economics) Protecting national production from foreign competition: système protecteur.^[2][3]
3. Condescending, showing a patron's superiority: un air protecteur, un ton protecteur.^[2]

Related words

• protéger
• protection
• Latin prōtegō

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 t u v 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 m n o p q Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse