Ci-devant

The term "ci-devant" (French for "formerly" or "heretofore") was used during the French Revolution as a derogatory label applied to members of the nobility and other privileged classes who had lost their status and privileges after the abolition of feudalism and the establishment of the Republic. It essentially signified "former [noble/aristocrat]" and carried a strong negative connotation, suggesting a person clinging to past status in a newly egalitarian society. The term implied that the individual was no longer relevant or entitled to the respect they once commanded and, further, that they might be secretly harboring counter-revolutionary sentiments. The term was used in official documents, revolutionary pamphlets, and common parlance to identify and stigmatize individuals associated with the Ancien Régime. Being identified as a "ci-devant" could lead to suspicion, social ostracism, and even persecution.