virilité

Forms

virilité f (plural virilités)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin virīlitās (“manhood, male sex, manliness”), a Latin word of the imperial period, from virīlis (“manly”) (see viril).^[2][3][4][5] The Latin adjective comes from vir (“man”).^[6] Wiktionary notes that within French it can also be analysed as the adjective with the suffix -ité.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record, in Jean Meschinot's Lunettes des Princes (1461–1465), is figurative: a firmness worthy of a real man.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

After this figurative sense of energy and firmness, the word was used by Jean Molinet in 1482 for the physical attributes of the grown man.^[2][3][4] Ambroise Paré used it about 1560 for the age of a grown man: La jeunesse ou virilité est prise depuis 25 ans jusqu'à 35 “youth or manhood is reckoned from 25 to 35 years”.^[5][2][3]

From Latin it took the special sense “male genitals” (1611), which has disappeared, and “sexual vigour” (1718, Académie).^[3][7] In 1836 Léon Gozlan used it of a woman's masculine appearance.^[2] English borrowed virility from French in the 1580s, for the period of manhood.^[6]

Timeline

• 1461–1465 – Jean Meschinot uses virilité for manly firmness.^[2]
• 1482 – Jean Molinet uses it for the physical attributes of a grown man.^[2][4]
• c. 1560 – Ambroise Paré uses it for the age of manhood.^[2][3][7]
• 1580s – English borrows it as virility.^[6]
• 1611 – It names the male genitals, a sense since lost.^[3]
• 1718 – The Académie records the sense “sexual vigour”.^[3][7]
• 1836 – Gozlan uses it of a woman's masculine appearance.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. The set of physical and sexual attributes of the adult man, and the symbolism attached to them, as opposed to féminité.^[8][2][7]
2. Male sexual potency; the capacity to beget children.^[8][7][5]
3. (figurative) Manly character, vigour and firmness: la virilité d'un style.^[8][7][5]
4. (dated) The age of a grown man, manhood.^[7][5]

Related words

• viril
• déviriliser
• Latin virilitas
• English virility

References

1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert