solidaire

Forms

solidaire (plural solidaires)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French solide + -aire to render the legal phrase Latin in solidum (“for the whole”).^[2][3][1] Bloch and Wartburg, the DHLF and the GLLF derive it directly from that phrase, which was also usual in medieval legal Latin.^[4][5][6] In it solidum is the neuter of solidus (“solid, whole”), used as a noun for the whole of a sum.^[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Bloch and Wartburg date it to 1462 as a legal term, “common to several people so that each answers for the whole”;^[4][7] the TLFi's first record is obligation solidaire in Jean Duret's commentary on the customs of the Bourbonnais (1584).^[2] The DHLF notes that the word also meant “complete, entire”.^[5]

Semantic evolution

As a legal term it was applied to an obligation (Cotgrave, 1611), then to the persons bound by it, first in the plural (1718).^[5][6] In the 18th century it widened:^[4] Caylus uses it before 1747 of people bound by common interests and responsibilities,^[5][2] whence être solidaire de someone (1825) and, in the 20th century, se déclarer solidaire de someone.^[5][6] From 1834 (Béranger) it is said of things that depend on one another, and since 1861 (Cournot) also of machine parts linked in one movement.^[5][2]

English borrowed it as solidary in 1818, “joint and several”.^[8]

Timeline

• 1462 – First record as a legal term.^[4]
• 1584 – Jean Duret writes obligation solidaire.^[2]
• 1693 – The derivative solidarité appears as a legal term.^[4][5]
• 1739–1747 – Caylus uses it of people sharing interests.^[2]
• 1834 – Béranger uses it of things depending on each other.^[2]
• 1861 – Cournot uses it in mechanics.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (law) Of an obligation, binding several people so that each is liable for the whole, and of the persons so bound: débiteurs solidaires.^[9][2][3]
2. Of people, bound to others by common responsibility and interests, showing solidarity: être solidaire de someone.^[9][10][5]
3. Of things, interdependent.^[10][2][1]
4. (mechanics) Of parts, linked so that they move together.^[2][5]

Word family

• solidairement
• solidariser
• solidarisme
• solidarité

Related words

• soudé
• solide
• Latin solidus

Usage notes

In Belgium a solidaire was also a member of an atheist association.^[11]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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 Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
4. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
11. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF