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absorbant

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Etymology and origin of the French word absorbant

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1701 More words from the 18th century
Ultimate origin
Latin sorbeō

Pronunciation

  • /ap.sɔʁ.bɑ̃/[1]

Forms

absorbant (feminine absorbante, masculine plural absorbants, feminine plural absorbantes)[1]

Etymology

It is the present participle, used as an adjective and noun, from French absorber.[2][3][4][5] The verb is borrowed from Latin absorbeō, formed with ab- and sorbeō (“to swallow”); it appeared first as Old French assorber (about 1050).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The DHLF records the noun for an absorbent substance in 1701.[5] The TLFi's first record is the Encyclopédie (1751), where the adjective is a medical term for vessels that take in fluids, and the noun names remedies that take up excess humours in the stomach.[6]

Semantic evolution

The adjective spread in the middle of the 18th century in physics and physiology;[5] the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert date it to 1740.[2][3] In 19th-century anatomy système absorbant was the set of lymphatic vessels and glands thought to carry out absorption.[7] In modern use it describes what soaks up fluids, particles or radiation, as in botany poils absorbants, the root hairs, and figuratively an occupation that takes up the whole mind.[3][4][7]

Timeline

  • 1701 – The noun is used for an absorbent substance.[5]
  • 1740 – The Grand Robert's date for the adjective.[2]
  • 1751 – The Encyclopédie uses the adjective and the noun in medicine.[6][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. absorbent: that takes in fluids, particles or radiation: une serviette très absorbante.[3][4]
  2. (botany) Poils absorbants: the root hairs.[3][4]
  3. (figurative) That takes up all of one's mind or time, absorbing: une lecture absorbante.[3][4][7]

Noun

  1. An absorbent substance: la craie est un absorbant.[4][8]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b 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
  7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Absorbant.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/absorbant. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·