susceptibilité

Forms

susceptibilité f (plural susceptibilités)^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned formation from French susceptible + -ité.^[2][3][1] The adjective, recorded in French from 1372, goes back to Late Latin susceptibilis.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Dictionnaire de Trévoux records it in 1752 for the capacity to receive impressions, a lively sensitivity to certain stimuli.^[2][4][5]

Semantic evolution

In medicine the word was specialized (1845) for the heightened physical and moral sensitivity observed in nervous disorders.^[4][5] After susceptible “easily offended”, it came to name a touchy self-esteem: the GLLF and the DHLF date this to 1784 (Mme de Genlis), the TLFi to 1788 (Féraud).^[5][4][2] It then also named an instance of this touchiness (before 1841) and the matter on which it shows (1863).^[4][5] This is now the most common use.^[4] In physics susceptibilité magnétique (1888 in the DHLF, 1890 in the TLFi) is a body's ability to become magnetized in a magnetic field.^[4][2]

Timeline

• 1752 – The Dictionnaire de Trévoux records it as “capacity to receive impressions”.^[2]
• 1784 – Mme de Genlis uses it for touchiness.^[5][4]
• 1788 – Féraud's Dictionaire critique records the sense “readiness to take offence”.^[2]
• 1845 – Bescherelle records the medical sense.^[5]
• 1888 – Susceptibilité magnétique appears in physics.^[4][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. Touchiness, an easily wounded self-esteem: Elle a ménagé la susceptibilité de son collègue.^[6][2]
2. An instance or point of this touchiness: ménager les susceptibilités.^[6][5]
3. (dated) Keen sensitivity, readiness to be affected by something.^[6][2]
4. (medicine) Susceptibility or predisposition to a disease.^[6][7]
5. (physics) Susceptibilité magnétique: a body's capacity to become magnetized.^[2][4]

Related words

• susceptible
• Latin suscipiō

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 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. ^ 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, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette