atteinte

Atteinte is a French noun that denotes the act of reaching, touching, or affecting something or someone. It can range from a neutral contact to a harmful or infringing impact. The feminine noun is une atteinte and the plural is les atteintes.

Étymologie: atteinte derives from the verb atteindre, itself from Old French atteindre, from Latin attingere (ad + tangere), meaning to touch or reach. The noun formation reflects the result or consequence of such contact or effect.

Usage and senses: In everyday language, atteinte can refer to physical damage or to an effect on a person, group, or object, for example une atteinte à l’intégrité, une atteinte à la réputation, or une atteinte à l’image. The sense emphasizes that something has been harmed, infringed, or diminished.

In law: In civil and criminal contexts, atteinte designates an infringement or injury to rights, persons, or property. The expression porter atteinte à is common, as in porter atteinte à la vie privée, à l’intégrité corporelle, ou à l’honneur. Some offenses are explicitly framed as atteintes, such as l’atteinte sexuelle, a category of criminal offenses concerning sexual acts. The term also appears in phrases describing violations or prejudices in civil liability and administrative contexts.

In medicine and health: In medical language, atteinte denotes organ or functional impairment, such as atteinte hépatique (liver injury) or atteinte cérébrale (brain injury).

Voir aussi: Attente synonymes et nuances proches incluent dommage, préjudice, violation, atteinte morale, et atteinte à l’honneur.