analyste

Forms

analyste m or f by sense (plural analystes)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French analyse + -iste, with one of the two like-sounding syllables dropped.^[2][3][1] The noun in turn is from Ancient Greek ἀνάλυσις (análusis), a word of Greek philosophy.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Descartes uses it in 1638, in a letter to Mersenne, for a mathematician versed in analysis: Vos analystes n'entendent rien en ma géométrie (“Your analysts understand nothing of my geometry”).^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

From mathematics the word passed in 1780 (Condillac) to a person gifted for analysing ideas and feelings,^[2][5] and in 1829, rarely, to a critic who analyses a work.^[5] It was used for chemists from 1875.^[5] In the 20th century it was applied to economic and financial analysis and then to computing, hence analyste-programmeur (about 1960).^[5][6] As a short form of psychanalyste it is dated 1907 by the Petit Robert;^[6] Quemada's datings record it in 1933 (Jouve).^[7]

Timeline

• 1638 – Descartes uses it of mathematicians.^[2][3]
• 1780 – Condillac uses it of someone gifted for analysis.^[2][6]
• 1829 – It is used of a critic who analyses a work.^[5]
• 1875 – First used of a chemist.^[5]
• 1907 – First recorded for a psychoanalyst.^[6]
• c. 1960 – Analyste-programmeur appears in computing.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A specialist in a kind of analysis: a mathematician, a chemist, a financial analyst (analyste financier).^[6][8]
2. (computing) An engineer or technician who analyses a program or system: analyste-programmeur.^[6][5]
3. A person skilled in analysing feelings and ideas, especially one's own.^[6][2]
4. A psychanalyste.^[6]

Related words

• analyse
• analyser
• analytique
• psychanalyste

Usage notes

Analyste is pronounced like annaliste, a writer of annals, which has a different origin.^[2][6]

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. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
8. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse