remarquable

Forms

remarquable (plural remarquables)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French remarquer + -able.^[2][3][1] The verb, first recorded in 1549, is from French marquer with the prefix re-; it is the Norman-Picard form, which replaced Old French remerchier.^[2] Bloch and Wartburg likewise take the simple verb as a dialect form that ousted Old French merchier (“to mark”), from Old Norse merki (“mark”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1547–1555 in J. Chesneau's account of his voyage to Constantinople, meaning “likely to attract attention”.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

In the 16th century Desportes wrote of les palais remarquables, “the remarkable palaces”.^[6] The appreciative sense “worthy of special consideration” is found in Montchrestien in 1604;^[2] Rey dates “worthy of notice” to 1607 and notes that, said mostly of intellectual qualities, it has come to mean “brilliant, outstanding”.^[5] In mathematics, from the middle of the 20th century, it qualifies elements having properties that the others lack.^[5][7] The adverb remarquablement dates from 1616.^[5]

English remarkable (about 1600) was formed from the verb remark or modelled on the French word.^[8]

Timeline

• 1547–1555 – First recorded, in J. Chesneau's travel account.^[2]
• 1604 – Montchrestien uses it for what deserves special consideration.^[2]
• c. 1600 – English remarkable is recorded.^[8]
• 1616 – The adverb remarquablement appears.^[5]
• 1964 – Larousse records the mathematical sense.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Worth noticing, noteworthy, striking, for good or ill: un détail remarquable.^[9][2][6]
2. Outstanding in merit or quality, distinguished, éminent: une chercheuse remarquable.^[9][5]
3. (mathematics) Said of an element having properties that similar elements lack.^[7][5]

Word family

• remarquablement

Related words

• remarquer
• marquer
• marque

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert