révolte

Forms

révolte f (plural révoltes)^[1]

Etymology

It is a deverbal noun from French révolter.^[2][1][3][4] révolter is from Italian rivoltare (“to exchange, turn round”), from rivolto, the past participle of rivolgere (“to turn back”), from Latin revolvō (“to roll back”).^[4][3] Bloch and Wartburg note that the noun already had its modern sense around 1500, a sense that is more recent for Italian rivolta.^[4] Littré derived it directly from the Italian noun, properly the act of turning to face.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1501, in an ordinance quoted in Jean d'Auton's chronicle, meaning a revolt against established authority.^[2] Rey describes it as rebellion conceived as a turning round.^[3]

Semantic evolution

In the 16th and 17th centuries it could also mean “defection to the opposing party” (1546) and “apostasy” (1564), senses close to the etymological turning round of the verb, which did not survive.^[3][6]

From 1642 (Corneille's révolte des sens) it was used for a violent emotional or spiritual reaction, and after 1643 for refusing to accept what seems unacceptable.^[2][3][7] An individual's refusal to obey a person or authority is recorded later, in Baudelaire (1860).^[3][7] In 1942 Camus gave it a philosophical sense, the stance of those who refuse to accept the absurdity of the human condition.^[3][7] Rey notes that révolte contrasts with révolution, which is always collective.^[3]

Timeline

• 1501 – First record, of a revolt against authority.^[2]
• 1546 – Used for defection to the opposing party.^[3]
• 1564 – Used for apostasy.^[3]
• 1642 – Corneille's Polyeucte has révolte des sens.^[2][3]
• 1643 – Used for refusal to accept what is unacceptable.^[3][7]
• 1860 – Baudelaire uses it of an individual's refusal to obey.^[3][7]
• 1942 – Camus gives it a philosophical sense.^[3][7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A revolt, rebellion, an open collective rising against established authority: réprimer une révolte.^[8][7][1]
2. (military) A mutiny.^[7][1]
3. An individual's refusal to obey or submit.^[7][3]
4. Indignation, a violent emotional or intellectual rejection of something.^[3][7]
5. (philosophy) The stance of refusing the absurdity of the human condition.^[3][7]

Related words

• révolter
• révoltant
• révolution
• Italian rivoltare

References

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