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anaérobie

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Etymology and origin of the French word anaérobie

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1863 Pasteur More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek ἀήρ,βίος
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French aérobie
English aerobic
French anaérobie
English anaerobic

Pronunciation

  • /a.na.e.ʁɔ.bi/[1]

Forms

anaérobie (plural anaérobies)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French an- + aérobie, with the privative prefix.[2][3][4] Littré and the GLLF explain it directly from Greek: the privative Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-), ἀήρ (aḗr, “air”) and βίος (bíos, “life”).[5][6] The base is itself compounded of aéro- and -bie, on the model of amphibie.[2][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1863 in Pasteur, who divided living beings into aérobies, which cannot live without air, and anaérobies, which can do without it, at least for a time.[2] Etymonline also credits the coinage to Pasteur in 1863.[8] The GLLF dates it only to Littré (1877).[6]

Semantic evolution

In biology it describes micro-organisms that live without air or oxygen, and the processes that take place without oxygen.[2][5] By analogy it has been used since 1960 for an engine able to run without air, beyond the atmosphere.[4][6] It is also used of marine or fresh waters depleted in oxygen.[9]

English anaerobic (1884) is from the French word, according to Etymonline.[8]

Timeline

  • 1863 – Pasteur contrasts aérobies and anaérobies.[2][8]
  • 1877 – Littré records it as a biological term.[6][5]
  • 1960 – It is applied to rocket engines that work without air.[4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (biology) anaerobic: able to live or take place in the absence of air or oxygen.[2][4][9]
  2. Of an engine: able to run without air, as a rocket engine.[4][6][9]
  3. Of waters: depleted in oxygen.[9]

Noun

  1. (biology) An anaerobe.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert 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 c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 24, 226a
  8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  9. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Anaérobie.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/ana%C3%A9robie. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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