épurge

Forms

épurge f (plural épurges)^[1] Old French espurge; the modern spelling dates from the 17th century.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French espurge, a deverbal noun from Old French espurgier (“to clean, purify”), from Latin expurgō (“to purge, clean”).^[4][3][1][5] The Latin verb is formed from ex- and purgō (“to clean”), itself from pūrus (“pure, clean”).^[2] Littré analyses the word as the prefix ⟨é-⟩ for ⟨es-⟩ and purger.^[6] The plant was named for the purgative properties of its juice.^[7][4]

The Old French word passed into English, through Anglo-Norman, as spurge.^[7][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Espurge is first found in the Glossaire de Glasgow (mid-13th century), where it glosses Medieval Latin titimalus, the spurge.^[4][8] The Anglo-Norman Dictionary dates the plant name to about 1240.^[9]

Semantic evolution

The word has kept the name of a spurge whose seeds give a strongly purgative oil.^[4][10][2] Its sap was used by beggars to raise artificial sores and so stir pity.^[4] Grande épurge is the castor-oil plant, the ricin.^[4][6][2] In Anglo-Norman the name also covered stavesacre, likewise used as a purge.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 1240 – Earliest Anglo-Norman record of espurge as a plant name.^[9]
• Mid-13th century – Espurge glosses titimalus in the Glossaire de Glasgow.^[4][8]
• Late 14th century – English borrows the word as spurge.^[7]
• 17th century – The spelling épurge appears.^[2]
• 1913 – Apollinaire's Alcools mentions beggars wounded with épurge.^[4]
• 1932 – The Académie records grande épurge for the castor-oil plant.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (botany) Caper spurge, Euphorbia lathyris, whose seeds yield a strongly purgative oil.^[4][6][10]
2. Grande épurge: the castor-oil plant, ricin.^[4][6][2]

Related words

• expurger
• purger
• pur
• Latin expurgō
• English spurge

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 314b
6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ a b Godefroy, Frédéric (1881–1902), Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IXe au XVe siècle, 10 vols., Paris: Vieweg / Bouillon
9. ^ a b c Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
10. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert