susceptible

Forms

susceptible (plural susceptibles)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin susceptibilis (“capable of receiving”), a 6th-century word,^[2][3][4] derived from Latin susceptum, the supine of suscipiō (“to take up from below, take on, undergo”).^[2][3][5] The verb is formed from subs-, a variant of sub (“under”), and capiō (“to take”),^[3][6] which Rey traces to an Indo-European root Proto-Indo-European *kap-.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1372 in Corbichon's translation Propriétaire des choses, meaning able to receive something that changes one: homme soit une beste ... susceptible de science “man is an animal ... capable of knowledge”.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

Susceptible de followed by a noun was said first of a person able to feel moral or emotional effects (1372), then of a thing able to take on new qualities (1520).^[3][5] The word was rare before the 17th century,^[3][4] when it described what is apt to receive something (early 17th century, Malherbe).^[3][6] With an infinitive it described a latent ability in a person (1750) or an occasional possibility in a thing (19th century).^[3]

In 1760 it took on its commonest modern sense, of a person easily hurt in their pride, sometimes as a noun (before 1776).^[3][2] It was also said of a sensitive part of the body or sense (1772), and of a delicate feeling (1782).^[3][2] With a passive infinitive, susceptible de came to mean “liable to” (1779 of a person, 1810 of a thing).^[3][6]

Timeline

• 1372 – First recorded, in Corbichon.^[2][3]
• 1520 – Used of things that can take on new qualities.^[3][7]
• 1564 – Bloch and Wartburg's second record, after which the word spreads.^[4]
• 1752 – The derivative susceptibilité is recorded.^[3][4]
• 1758 – Susceptible de with an active infinitive, “able to”.^[2]
• 1760 – First used for “touchy”, in Palissot.^[2][7]
• 1772 – Cazotte uses it for keen physical sensitivity.^[2]
• 1779 – Mme de Genlis uses it with a passive infinitive.^[2][6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Easily offended, touchy, thin-skinned: ne la taquine pas, elle est susceptible.^[8][7][9]
2. Susceptible de + noun: able to have, receive or undergo something: un texte susceptible de deux lectures.^[9][8][2]
3. Susceptible de + infinitive: liable to, able on occasion to: un projet susceptible d’être modifié.^[9][8][2]
4. (dated) Sensitive.^[7]

Word family

• susceptibilité

Related words

• Latin susceptibilis

Usage notes

Rey distinguishes susceptible de + infinitive, an occasional possibility, from capable de, a lasting ability.^[3] In the old health regulations, marchandises susceptibles were goods that could carry contagion.^[10]

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 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 g h i j k l m n o Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
9. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
10. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette