semblant

Forms

semblant m (plural semblants)^[1]

Etymology

It is the present participle of the verb used as a noun, from French sembler.^[2][3][4][5] The verb continues Late Latin similō (“to be like, to resemble”), from similis (“like”).^[6]

Cognate with Old Occitan semblant, Spanish semblante and Italian sembiante.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the late 10th century in the Passion, in the plural, for signs, appearances and proofs; the GLLF reads it there as the appearance of the risen Christ.^[2][3][5]

Semantic evolution

Old French used it for appearance, the way someone looks, and for a person's countenance; in the Chanson de Roland (about 1100) it is a person's features: Si voil vedeir alques de sun semblant (“so I wish to see something of his countenance”).^[2][7][6] It also meant a sign (about 1155, Wace), a kindly welcome, as in bel semblant (12th century), a manner of being (1244–48) and an opinion, in à mon semblant “in my view”, all now gone.^[5]

Faire semblant de first meant “to let it be seen that” (about 1145, Wace) and then “to pretend to” (1160–74, Wace's Roman de Rou).^[2][5] From the 16th century the sense of deceptive appearance prevailed: beau semblant and faux-semblant “deceit, false appearance” both date from 1538.^[5] Un semblant de “a mere show of” is recorded in 1636 (Monet), and ne faire semblant de rien “to feign indifference” goes back to sans faire semblan de riens in Perceforest (1471–77).^[2][5]

Timeline

• Late 10th century – First found in the Passion.^[2][3]
• c. 1100 – The Chanson de Roland uses it for a person's features.^[2][7]
• c. 1145 – Wace has faire semblant de “to let it be seen”.^[2][5]
• 1160–74 – Wace uses faire semblant de “to pretend to”.^[2]
• 1471–77 – Sans faire semblan de riens appears in Perceforest.^[2]
• 1538 – Faux-semblant “deceit” is recorded.^[5]
• 1636 – Monet records un semblant de.^[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (dated or literary) An outward appearance, as opposed to reality.^[8][3]
2. Un semblant de: a mere show or semblance of something: Ils ont retrouvé un semblant de calme.^[8][3][2]
3. Faire semblant de: to pretend to: Le chat fait semblant de dormir., or used alone: Il ne pleure pas, il fait semblant.^[8][7]
4. Ne faire semblant de rien: to feign ignorance or indifference.^[8][7][2]

Word family

• faux-semblant

Related words

• sembler
• semblable
• ressembler
• Latin similis

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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 d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert