apogée

Pronunciation

• IPA: /a.pɔ.ʒe/^[1]

Forms

apogée m (plural apogées)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from New Latin apogaeum,^[2][3][1][4] from Ancient Greek ἀπόγειον (apógeion), the neuter of ἀπόγειος (apógeios, “far from the earth”), which in Ptolemy's system named the greatest distance of a planet from the Earth;^[2][5][6] the Greek word is formed from ἀπό (apó, “away from”) and γῆ (gê, “earth”).^[1][7]

Its opposite is périgée, which has no figurative sense.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a Renaissance term of astronomy, first recorded in 1557 (1562 according to the Petit Robert), for the point of an orbit farthest from the Earth.^[2][3][8]

Semantic evolution

In 1652 Guez de Balzac used it figuratively for the highest point, the peak of glory or power, a sense that has become usual (à l'apogée de sa gloire, Sainte-Beuve's Napoleon after Tilsit à l'apogée de sa grandeur).^[2][5][6] In the mid-20th century the astronomical sense was extended to artificial satellites.^[2][9] It was also, rarely, an adjective (1690: la lune est apogée).^[2][7]

Timeline

• 1557 – A term of astronomy.^[2]
• 1652 – Figurative use in Guez de Balzac.^[2]
• 1690 – As an adjective.^[2]
• Mid-20th century – Of artificial satellites.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. (astronomy) The apogee: the point of an orbit farthest from the Earth.^[8][10]
2. The peak, height, climax: à l'apogée de sa carrière.^[8][10]

Related words

• périgée
• aphélie
• géo-
• Ancient Greek γῆ (gê)
• English apogee

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 25, 16a
5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ 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
10. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)