fidèle French · revision 17681

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=end of the 10th century, Passion de Clermont|origins=la fīdō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /fi.dɛl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fidèle''' (plural fidèles)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|fidel]], [[m|fro|fedel]], [[m|fro|fedeil]]; the learned ''fidèle'' from 1533.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) In the 17th and 18th centuries it was also written ''fidelle''.^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned remodelling (1533) of Old French [[m|fro|fidel]], [[m|fro|fedeil]], forms that came from [[la|fidēlis|t=trustworthy, loyal; firm]].^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)^(FEW|3, 502b) Wiktionary describes it as a borrowing from Latin that replaced the inherited Old French forms, which survive in [[féal]].^(Wiktionary)^(Grand Robert 2005) The Latin adjective is derived from [[m|la|fidēs|t=faith, trust]], the source of [[foi]], itself from [[m|la|fīdō|t=to trust]].^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) In Medieval Latin it also meant “believer”.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Bloch and Wartburg note that the popular Old French forms seem to have been less used than the forms of that word, with which they finally merged.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Cognate with [[pro|fizel]], [[ca|fidel]], [[es|fiel]] and [[it|fedele]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Passion de Clermont'' (end of the 10th century) ''fidels'' are those bound to Christ, the faithful whom he feeds with bread and wine.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a noun it named a person bound to a Church by faith; as an adjective it described what shows loyalty, ''fedeilz servises'' in the ''Chanson de Roland'', and a loyal, sincere person (1119).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) It came to mean constant in one's feelings, especially in love (1651, Corneille), true to the facts (1670), and, in the classical period, honest, of a servant (1673).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+

+ From loyalty it passed to accuracy (1584): ''mémoire fidèle'' (1690), a faithful translation (1773), and in the 20th century a measuring instrument whose readings are not distorted.^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF) The noun [[fidélité]] was taken up again from Latin in the 13th century, replacing Old French ''feelted''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * End of the 10th century – The noun in the ''Passion de Clermont''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1100 – ''Fedeilz servises'' in the ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1119 – Philippe de Thaon: loyal, trustworthy.^(TLFi)

+ * 1533 – The learned form ''fidèle''.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1536 – Calvin: ''les fidèles'', the faithful.^(TLFi)

+ * 1651 – Corneille: constant in one's attachments.^(TLFi)

+ * 1773 – D'Alembert: of a faithful translation.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|loyal|alt=Loyal]] to someone, true to one's commitments: ''rester fidèle à quelqu'un'', ''un serviteur fidèle''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Constant in one's affections: ''un ami fidèle'', ''un chien fidèle''; of a customer, regular.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # [[m|en|faithful|alt=Faithful]] in love, having no other partner.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Fidèle à'': true to (one's word, principles, habits).^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # [[m|en|accurate|alt=Accurate]], true to reality or to an original: ''une traduction fidèle'', ''une mémoire fidèle''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|believer]], a member of a religion, ''les fidèles'', the congregation.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fidèlement]]

+ * [[fidéliser]]

+ * [[fidélité]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[féal]]

+ * [[foi]]

+ * [[la|fidēlis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}