responsabilité

Forms

responsabilité f (plural responsabilités)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French responsable + -ité,^[2][3][1] and its use was shaped by the English word responsibility, a term of English constitutional law.^[4][5][1] The TLFi dates the English word to 1766, the Grand Robert and Rey to 1733.^[2][5][4]

A Middle French responsabiliteit is recorded once, in the first half of the 15th century, in Jean de Stavelot's chronicle;^[2] Rey and the Grand Robert derive it from the Old French adjective responsible, and it had long fallen out of use by the 18th century.^[4][5] The base adjective is a learned formation on Latin respōnsus, the past participle of respondeō (“to answer, to vouch for”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The modern word first appears in 1783–1784 in the Courrier de l'Europe, in translations of speeches by Fox, as a term of constitutional law: the duty of ministers to leave office when the legislature withdraws its confidence.^[2][5][4]

Semantic evolution

From English constitutional usage the word passed into general French and became fashionable in the press and political speeches of the late 18th century,^[4][2] taking the sense of the French adjective, “obligation to answer for one's acts” (1788, Féraud).^[4][6] In civil law it named the obligation to make good damage done to others by oneself or by a person, animal or thing in one's care (1804, Civil Code), and in criminal law the obligation to bear the punishment set by law (1904), whence responsabilité atténuée “diminished responsibility” (1936).^[4][6] The Académie recorded responsabilité morale in 1835.^[6] In the 20th century it came to mean, by metonymy, a post that gives power of decision but requires its holder to account for it (1930).^[4][6]

Timeline

• first half of the 15th century – An isolated Middle French responsabiliteit in Jean de Stavelot.^[2]
• 1783 – The modern word appears in translations of Fox's speeches.^[2][4][3]
• 1788 – Féraud records it for the obligation to answer for one's acts.^[6][4]
• 1804 – The Civil Code uses it for liability for damage.^[4]
• 1835 – The Académie records responsabilité morale.^[6]
• 1904 – Used for criminal liability.^[4][6]
• 1930 – Georges Duhamel uses it for a post of authority.^[6]
• 1936 – Responsabilité atténuée is recorded.^[4][6]

Meanings

Noun

1. The obligation to answer for one's acts and bear their consequences; responsibility.^[2][1]
2. Responsabilité morale: the duty to answer for one's intentions and acts before one's conscience.^[2]
3. (law) The obligation to make good damage one has caused; liability: responsabilité civile, responsabilité pénale.^[7][1]
4. (constitutional law) The duty of ministers to resign when the legislature withdraws its confidence.^[7]
5. A post or charge that confers decisions and requires its holder to account for them.^[4][6]

Word family

• coresponsabilité

Related words

• responsabiliser
• responsable
• irresponsable
• irresponsabilité

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert