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subconscient

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Etymology and origin of the French word subconscient

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1890 Revue philosophique de la France et de l'étranger More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
Latin consciō

Pronunciation

  • /syp.kɔ̃.sjɑ̃/[1]

Forms

subconscient (feminine subconsciente, masculine plural subconscients, feminine plural subconscientes)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French sub- + conscient.[2][3][4][1] Conscient (1754) is from Latin consciēns, the present participle of consciō (“to be aware of”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded as an adjective in 1890, in éléments subconscients in the Revue philosophique de la France et de l'étranger.[2][3][6]

Semantic evolution

In psychology and philosophy the adjective describes what is only faintly conscious, or mental activity that goes on outside awareness yet takes part in active mental processes.[2][4] The noun le subconscient is found from 1895, and subconscience from 1894.[2][4][7] The dictionaries record the words later: Larousse has the adjective in 1904 (or 1907) and the noun in 1933.[8][5][6] Both the noun and subconscience are now becoming dated, the noun being used much as inconscient.[7][4]

Timeline

  • 1890 – The adjective appears in the Revue philosophique.[2][6]
  • 1894 – Subconscience is recorded.[4][7]
  • 1895 – The noun appears in the Annales des sciences psychiques.[2][4]
  • 1904 – Larousse records the adjective.[8]
  • 1933 – Larousse records the noun.[8][6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. subconscious, only faintly conscious, dimly felt: un souvenir subconscient.[2][4][1]
  2. (psychology) Of a mental process that is not conscious but plays a part in active mental activity.[4]

Noun

  1. (dated) The subconscious, the realm of mental states outside clear awareness, roughly the inconscient.[4][9][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ a b c d Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  7. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  9. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Subconscient.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/subconscient. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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