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acétone

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Etymology and origin of the French word acétone

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1833 Bussy More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
Latin acetum
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French acétique
English acetic
French acétone
English acetone
From the same root
French acétate ← acétique

Pronunciation

Forms

acétone f (uncountable)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French acétique + -one.[1][2] The TLFi derives it from the stem of Latin acētum (“vinegar”) with the suffix -one, the suffix proper to ketones in chemical nomenclature,[3] and the GLLF from the Latin word alone.[4] According to the Grand Robert, the suffix came from names such as eupione and margarone and only later became specific to ketones.[5] The shortened form cétone comes from this word.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Grand Robert dates it to 1833 (Bussy).[5][2] The TLFi's first record is from La Châtre's dictionary (1853), for a colourless, very volatile liquid with a penetrating smell.[3]

Semantic evolution

Because it was found among the products of the distillation of wood, acetone was also called esprit pyroligneux or pyroacétique.[3] It is obtained by heating an acetate, and the systematic name is propanone.[3][4] English has had acetone since 1839.[7]

Timeline

  • 1833 – Bussy, the Grand Robert's first date.[5][2]
  • 1839 – English acetone is recorded.[7]
  • 1853 – La Châtre's dictionary, the TLFi's first record.[3]
  • 1855 – The Nysten–Littré medical dictionary, the FEW's date.[8]
  • 1866 – Larousse records it.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (chemistry) The simplest ketone (CH3COCH3, propanone), a colourless, volatile, flammable liquid with a characteristic smell, used as a solvent.[2][9][3][10]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f 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
  4. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  8. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Acétone.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/ac%C3%A9tone. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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