solidarité

Forms

solidarité f (plural solidarités)^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned derivative, formed from French solidaire + -ité.^[2][3][4] The adjective (1462) was first a legal term, derived from the legal phrase Latin in solidum (“for the whole”), from the neuter of solidus.^[3] As a legal term it competed with solidité.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1693 in a legal decree, for the bond between persons bound by a joint obligation.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

In law it came to mean the joint character of an obligation itself (Code civil, 1804).^[2][5] The form solidalité is used by d'Argenson in 1737 for the mutual dependence between people.^[2] Mirabeau applied it to things in 1789, for interdependence.^[2][5] From 1795 it was common of people, for being solidary and helping one another.^[5][2]

This revolutionary sense was made into a doctrine at the beginning of the 20th century (compare solidarisme) and became, in social and political language, a cautious substitute for equality in economic matters, as in impôt de solidarité.^[5] Larousse recorded the sense “group of people who are solidary” in 1875.^[2]

Timeline

• 1693 – First recorded in a legal decree.^[2]
• 1737 – D'Argenson uses solidalité for mutual dependence between people.^[2]
• 1789 – Mirabeau applies it to things.^[2][5]
• 1795 – Used of mutual help between people.^[2][5]
• 1804 – The Code civil uses it for the joint character of an obligation.^[2]
• 1875 – Larousse records it for a group of solidary people.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. (law) The joint liability of debtors or creditors, each answering for the whole: solidarité active, solidarité passive.^[7][6][8]
2. Solidarity: the bond between people aware of common interests, leading them to help one another: solidarité de classe.^[7][9]
3. Interdependence between things or phenomena.^[2][8]

Related words

• solidaire
• solide
• solidité
• solidariser
• Latin solidus

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 n 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b 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
8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)