sanctionner

Forms

sanctionner^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French sanction + -er.^[2][1][3][4] The noun (14th century) is borrowed from Latin sānctiō, from sanciō (“to make sacred, ratify, establish by law”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the Courrier de l'Europe of 11 March 1777, meaning to ratify a legal provision, to make it enforceable.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

From giving the sovereign's sanction to a law, the verb moved to the general sense “to confirm officially, to endorse”: Camille Desmoulins used it so in 1793–94, and the Académie recorded it in 1798.^[2][6][5] It also came to mean approving or consecrating something, as a word sanctionné par l'usage is accepted by usage.^[7] In the 20th century it took the sense “to punish with a penalty”, recorded in 1930, following the noun's sense “penalty”.^[2][5]

Timeline

• 1777 – The Courrier de l'Europe uses sanctionner of ratifying a law.^[2][3]
• 1793–94 – Camille Desmoulins uses it for “endorse”.^[2]
• 1798 – The Académie records the general sense “confirm”.^[6][5]
• 1930 – First record of the sense “punish”.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To make a law or decree enforceable by a sanction; to ratify: Le roi refusa de sanctionner le décret.^[7][2][6]
2. To confirm or approve officially; to endorse: Une expression sanctionnée par l'usage.^[7][6][1]
3. To punish with a sanction or penalty: L'arbitre a sanctionné la faute d'un carton jaune.^[7][2][1]

Word family

• sanctionnement

Related words

• sanction
• Latin sānctiō

References

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