Etymologically
Log in

sénatorial

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the French word sénatorial

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1518 translation of Platina More words from the 16th century
Ultimate origin
Latin senātor

Forms

sénatorial (feminine sénatoriale, masculine plural sénatoriaux, feminine plural sénatoriales)[1] In the 16th century the form senatoire was also used.[2]

Etymology

It is formed from French sénateur + -al, after Latin senātōrius (“senatorial”).[3][1] The Latin adjective is from senātor (“senator”).[3][4] The Grand Robert, the Petit Robert and the GLLF treat the word as a learned derivative of the Latin adjective itself.[4][5][6] Littré notes that 16th-century French also had a form taken directly from the same Latin word.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1518, in a translation of Platina's lives of the popes, of what belongs to a senate.[3][7]

Semantic evolution

In history it describes what belongs to the Roman senate, especially in ordre sénatorial (1728), the class from which Roman senators were drawn, set against the equestrian order and the plebs.[7][6] The Académie recorded it in 1694 for what relates to a senate and to senators in general, the main modern sense.[3][7] Under the French Third Republic came délégués sénatoriaux (1893), the electors who choose a senator.[7][6]

Timeline

  • 1518 – First recorded, in a translation of Platina.[3][4]
  • 1694 – The Académie records it.[3][6]
  • 1728 – Ordre sénatorial is found in Catrou.[6][7]
  • 1893 – Délégués sénatoriaux is recorded.[7][6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Relating to a senate or to senators: élections sénatoriales.[5][8][3]
  2. (history) Belonging to the Roman senate: ordre sénatorial, the class from which Roman senators were drawn.[5][7]

Usage notes

Délégués sénatoriaux are the electors who choose a senator.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Sénatorial.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/s%C3%A9natorial. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·