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acrobatique

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Etymology and origin of the French word acrobatique

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1842 Académie, Complément More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek ἀκροβάτης
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French acrobate
English acrobat
French acrobatique
From the same root
English acrobatic ← acrobate

Pronunciation

  • /a.kʁɔ.ba.tik/[1]

Forms

acrobatique (plural acrobatiques)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French acrobate + -ique.[2][3][1] The DHLF instead treats it as a derivative of acrobatie.[4] Acrobate is from Ancient Greek ἀκροβάτης (akrobátēs),[1] a word Bloch and Wartburg relate to ἀκροβατέω (akrobatéō, “to walk on tiptoe”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

As an adjective it is first recorded in 1842, in the supplement to the Académie's dictionary, meaning “relating to acrobats”.[2][3] Bloch and Wartburg and the DHLF date it to 1837, “relating to rope dancers”.[5][4][6]

Semantic evolution

From rope dancing it extended to balancing and gymnastic exercises in general;[4][2] Edmond About writes of an évasion acrobatique in 1857.[4][2] From 1894 it is used figuratively of feats of daring skill, in art and in music, and this use predominates in the 20th century.[2][4][7] It is also used in aviation.[2] English acrobatic (1848) was probably modelled on the French word.[8]

Timeline

  • 1837 – Recorded in the sense “relating to rope dancers”.[5][4]
  • 1842 – The Académie's supplement records the adjective.[2][3]
  • 1857 – Une évasion acrobatique in Edmond About.[2]
  • 1894 – Figurative use for virtuosity, in Jules Combarieu.[2][7]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Relating to acrobatics or to acrobats, acrobatic: exercice acrobatique.[7][2][1]
  2. (figurative) Showing daring virtuosity.[7][3][2]

Usage notes

An older noun acrobatique, for a machine used to raise loads, has a separate source: it is recorded as acrovatique in 1627 and was taken from Greek akrobatikon.[4][9] The Encyclopédie describes it in 1751.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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
  3. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  9. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Acrobatique.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/acrobatique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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