analogue

Forms

analogue (plural analogues)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀνάλογος (análogos, “proportional, in relation with”), a word found in Plato and also used in Latin by Varro.^[2][3][4] The DHLF and the Grand Robert have it come through Latin analogus;^[5][6] Rey calls the Greek adjective a rare word, borrowed to match analogie.^[5] The Greek is from ἀνά (aná, “according to”) and λόγος (lógos, “reason, proportion”).^[7][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1503 in Le Guidon en françoys, the French version of Guy de Chauliac's surgery, in logic: a term said to be analogue stands between the univocal and the equivocal.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

The construction analogue à (1770) gave the adjective the broader sense “similar”.^[5] It was used as a noun from 1787, notably in comparative anatomy for an organ that resembles another in function (1830, Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire).^[5][7] The more technical uses of the idea of analogy went instead to analogique.^[5]

English analogue is recorded from 1826, from the French adjective and noun.^[8]

Timeline

• 1503 – First record, in Le Guidon en françoys.^[2][4]
• 1770 – The construction analogue à “similar to” appears.^[5]
• 1787 – First use as a noun.^[5]
• 1826 – English analogue is recorded.^[8]
• 1830 – Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire uses it for analogous organs in comparative anatomy.^[5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Similar in some respects, comparable, analogous: une substance analogue à la cire.^[9][10][2]
2. (biology) Of organs, having the same function although different in nature.^[9][7]

Noun

1. A thing or being that corresponds to or resembles another, an equivalent: ce mot n'a pas d'analogue en anglais.^[9][11][7]

Related words

• analogie
• analogique
• homologue
• Ancient Greek ἀνάλογος (análogos)
• English analogue

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d 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. ^ Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
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 d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b c 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)
11. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)