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reconsidérer

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Etymology and origin of the French word reconsidérer

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1312 Jacques de Longuyon, Vœux du paon More words from the 14th century
Ultimate origin
Latin cōnsīderō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin cōnsīderō
French considérer
Romanian considera
French reconsidérer
Italian considerare
Spanish considerar
From the same root
Latin considerabilis ← cōnsīderō
Latin cōnsīderātiō ← cōnsīderō
Latin cōnsīderātus ← cōnsīderō
Romanian considerare ← considérer

Pronunciation

  • /ʁə.kɔ̃.si.de.ʁe/[1]

Forms

reconsidérer[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French re- + considérer.[2][3][4][5][1] The verb considérer goes back to Latin cōnsīderō.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1312, in Jacques de Longuyon's Vœux du paon, meaning “to consider again”.[2][7]

Semantic evolution

Robert Estienne's dictionary records it in 1549, and Cotgrave has reconsiderer in 1611,[2][4][8] but the TLFi finds it very rare from the 16th century to the 20th.[2] It came back in the 20th century in the language of administration, the Petit Robert dating its revival to 1926, with the sense “to examine a question again in view of a new decision”.[2][3][5][7]

Timeline

  • 1312 – Jacques de Longuyon uses it in the Vœux du paon.[2][7]
  • 1549 – Robert Estienne records it.[2][4]
  • 1611 – Cotgrave lists reconsiderer.[8]
  • 1926 – Taken up again, chiefly in administrative style.[5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. (transitive) To reconsider: to examine a question, a plan or a position again, especially after new facts, with a view to changing a decision; to re-examine: Le conseil devra reconsidérer ce dossier.[5][2][4][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 1068a
  7. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  9. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Reconsidérer.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/reconsid%C3%A9rer. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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