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alcaloïde

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Etymology and origin of the French word alcaloïde

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1823 Guibourt, as alcalide More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origins
Arabic قليAncient Greek εἶδος
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French alcali
French alcaloïde
From the same root
French alcalin ← alcali

Pronunciation

  • /al.ka.lɔ.id/[1]

Forms

alcaloïde m (plural alcaloïdes)[1] First as alcalide (1823).[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is formed from French alcali + -oïde, a remodelling of alcalide, which Guibourt proposed in 1823 with the suffix -ide.[2][4][3] The name was given because these substances react like alkalis, neutralising acids.[3][5] Wiktionnaire says the word came through German Alkaloid, recorded in German in 1819.[6]

alcali is from Arabic قلي (qalī, “soda”), with the Arabic article;[7][6] the suffix goes back to Ancient Greek εἶδος (eîdos, “form, likeness”).[5][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

In 1827 Henry and Plisson, in the Journal de pharmacie, used alcaloïdes for the basic substances Pelletier and Caventou had found in quinquina bark in 1820.[2][8]

Semantic evolution

The word named the basic substances with strong effects on the body, such as morphine, strychnine and the active principles of coffee and tea.[4] The older name was alcali végétal, which the TLFi gives as an obsolete synonym.[2] Littré adds that some nitrogen-containing compounds of animal origin, such as urea, were also called alkaloids.[5]

Derivatives followed: alcaloïdique (1879) and alcaloïdisme (1881) “poisoning by alkaloids”.[4]

Timeline

  • 1823 – Guibourt proposes the name alcalide.[2][4]
  • 1827 – Alcaloïde appears in Henry and Plisson's article in the Journal de pharmacie.[2][8]
  • 1879 – The adjective alcaloïdique is recorded.[4]
  • 1881 – Alcaloïdisme “alkaloid poisoning” is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (chemistry) An alkaloid: a basic, nitrogen-containing organic substance, mostly of plant origin, with strong toxic or medicinal effects, such as morphine, quinine or nicotine.[2][9][10]

Word family

  • alcaloïdique

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  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 Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  6. ^ a b Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
  7. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  8. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  9. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Alcaloïde.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/alcalo%C3%AFde. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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