répression

Forms

répression f (plural répressions)^[1]

Etymology

Rey, the Grand Robert, the Petit Robert and Picoche take it as borrowed from Medieval Latin repressiō, from repressus, the past participle of Latin reprimō (“to hold back, restrain”), the source of réprimer.^[2][3][4][5] The TLFi, Bloch and Wartburg and the GLLF instead see a learned formation in French on the participle, modelled on oppression and suppression, made to serve as the noun of the verb;^{[6][7][8][2][9]} Rey allows both.^{[6][7][8][2][9]}

Earliest recorded meaning

Oresme used it in 1372 for restraining a feeling that is too violent, such as anger.^[2][7][8] The TLFi's earliest sure record is la repression de ire in the 15th century, in Pierre de Lanoy's legend of Saint Anthony.^[6]

Semantic evolution

After a second record in 1482 the word was in normal use in the 16th and 17th centuries, then fell out of use.^[2] It reappeared in 1802 as the action noun of réprimer in its common sense, for a mostly punitive measure against crimes and offences.^[2][6] In the age of the great 19th-century social movements it came to mean putting down a collective revolt by force.^[2]

Returning to its first sense, psychology took it up in 1867 for the conscious rejection of a desire that morality condemns, and psychoanalysis in the 20th century for a conscious defence mechanism, distinguished from refoulement.^[2][6][8]

Timeline

• 1372 – Oresme uses it of restraining anger.^[2][7]
• 15th century – La repression de ire in Pierre de Lanoy.^[6]
• 1482 – A second record.^[2][3]
• 1802 – Flick uses it for checking something condemnable.^[6][8]
• 1867 – Taine uses it in psychology.^[6][2]
• 1964 – The Robert records the psychiatric and psychoanalytic senses.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. The action of repressing or punishing offences: la répression de la fraude.^[4][6]
2. The putting down of a collective revolt by force: une répression sanglante.^[4][6][10]
3. (psychology) The conscious, deliberate rejection of a desire or motive that one condemns.^[4][8]
4. (psychoanalysis) A conscious defence mechanism that keeps unpleasant contents out of awareness, as opposed to refoulement.^[8][2]

Word family

• répresseur

Related words

• réprimer
• répressif
• irrépressible
• Latin repressio

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
6. ^ 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
7. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ 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
9. ^ a b Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 10, 276b
10. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette