rétroactif

Forms

rétroactif (feminine rétroactive, masculine plural rétroactifs, feminine plural rétroactives)^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned formation from Latin retroagō (“to drive back, reverse, annul”), from its past participle retroactus, modelled on actif.^[2][3][4][5] The GLLF and Rey take it from the supine retroactum.^[6][5] The Latin verb is made of retrō (“back, backwards”) and agō (“to drive, lead”).^[7][5] Wiktionary analyses the French word as a compound of rétro- and that adjective.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1510 in the phrase clause rétroactive, in a legal text, for a measure that acts on what came before it.^[2][5] Bloch and Wartburg date it to 1534.^[8]

Semantic evolution

The adjective has kept a didactic, chiefly legal use: it qualifies a measure or law that takes effect on the past.^[5] The Code civil's statement that the law has no effet rétroactif is the classic example.^[4][6] It is also used more broadly of anything that acts on the past.^[2][4] Rétroactivement is found in 1603 or 1604 and again from 1842,^[2][5] and rétroactivité appears in 1801 in non-rétroactivité, before the simple word.^[5] English retroactive comes from the French word.^[9]

Timeline

• 1510 – Clause rétroactive is recorded in a legal document.^[2][5]
• 1534 – Bloch and Wartburg's date for the word.^[8]
• 1801 – Non-rétroactivité is first recorded.^[5]
• 1842 – The Académie's supplement records rétroactivement.^[2][5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Acting on what is earlier, on the past, especially of a law or measure: effet rétroactif.^[4][10][6]

Word family

• rétroactivité
• rétroactivement
• non-rétroactivité

Related words

• rétroaction
• rétroagir
• actif
• Latin retroagō

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
8. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
9. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)