respectable

Forms

respectable (plural respectables)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French respecter + -able, according to the TLFi and the Grand Robert.^[2][3][4] Rey points out that the adjective, recorded about 1460, is older on the record than the verb, so it can hardly be derived from it; the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese equivalents would rather point to an unattested Late Latin *respectabilis, which is likely.^[5] Bloch and Wartburg date the verb to 1560 and derive it from respect, which is from Latin respectus (“regard, consideration”).^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Georges Chastellain's chronicle, about 1470, uses it of a person: “worthy of respect”.^[2] The GLLF and the Grand Robert date this first record to about 1460.^[4][3]

Semantic evolution

The adjective seems to have been rare until the 17th century, when it became a fashionable word.^[5] In 1692 Bouhours called it new, adding that it had been born at Court and first used by people of high society: Il est né à la Cour.^[2][5]

In the 19th century it was often used of English and American society, without being felt as an anglicism, unlike the noun respectabilité, which was taken from English.^[3][5] At the same time it was applied to things in the sense “of some size or importance”, recorded about 1850.^[2][5]

Timeline

• c. 1470 – Georges Chastellain uses it of a person worthy of respect.^[2]
• 1692 – Bouhours calls it a new word, born at Court.^[2][5]
• c. 1850 – First used of things, meaning “of considerable size or importance”.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Deserving respect or esteem, especially because of age, position or merit: un notaire respectable.^[7][2][8]
2. Of feelings or opinions: deserving consideration: Ses doutes sont respectables.^[7][9]
3. (ironic) Having a dignified air.^[9][7]
4. Of a quantity: fairly large, considerable: une fortune respectable.^[8][9][4]

Related words

• respect
• respecter
• respectueux
• respectabilité
• Latin respectus

References

1. ^ a b 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 c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
9. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)