antagonisme

Forms

antagonisme m (plural antagonismes)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀνταγώνισμα (antagṓnisma).^{[2][3][4][5][6]} Littré analyses it as ἀντί (antí, “against”) and ἀγώνισμα (agṓnisma), from ἀγών (agṓn, “struggle”);^[7] the Académie relates it to ἀνταγωνιστής (antagōnistḗs), the source of antagoniste.^[8][2]

Bloch and Wartburg and Rey date it to 1593, Rey adding that it seems rare before the 18th century;^[2][3] the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert date it to 1751, and record antagonie “struggle” in 1593.^[9][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It was first an anatomical term, for the opposition of muscles: the GLLF dates this use to the end of the 16th century, Rey to 1751.^[4][3]

Semantic evolution

From anatomy the word passed into general use for a state of opposition or hostility, a use the GLLF dates to Auguste Comte in 1826.^[3][4][5] It also spread to other fields: medicine, of two opposed diseases (1855), chemistry and bacteriology.^[3]

The adjective antagonique appeared in 1861 with Proudhon and displaced antagonistique (1842, Balzac).^[3] English antagonism (1797) is from the French word or directly from the Greek.^[10]

Timeline

• 1593 – First date given by Bloch and Wartburg and by Rey; the Robert dictionaries record antagonie “struggle” that year.^[2][3][9]
• 1751 – Recorded in anatomy.^[3][5]
• 1826 – Used by Auguste Comte for opposition between political or social forces.^[4][5]
• 1855 – Used in medicine of two opposed diseases.^[3]
• 1861 – Proudhon uses the adjective antagonique.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A state of opposition, rivalry or struggle between people, nations, classes, doctrines or principles.^[5][11][8]
2. (physiology) The functional opposition of two muscles, organs or systems acting in contrary directions, as opposed to synergie.^[5][8][12]
3. (biology, chemistry) The mutually inhibitory action of two substances.^[11][4] Antagonisme microbien: the inhibition of one microbe's growth by another.^[11]

Related words

• antagoniste
• antagonique
• agonie
• protagoniste
• Ancient Greek ἀνταγώνισμα (antagṓnisma)
• English antagonism

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e 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 Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 24, 636a
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
9. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
11. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
12. ^ 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