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archéologue

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Etymology and origin of the French word archéologue

Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1812 Jouy, L'Hermite de la Chaussée d'Antin More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek ἀρχαιολογία

Pronunciation

  • /aʁ.ke.ɔ.lɔɡ/[1]

Forms

archéologue m or f by sense (plural archéologues)[1]

Etymology

It is from French archéologie, according to the Grand Robert, the Petit Robert and the Académie.[2][3][4] Hatzfeld and Darmesteter, Littré and Wiktionary take it from Ancient Greek ἀρχαιολόγος (arkhaiológos, “antiquary”) instead.[5][6][1][7] Archéologie, recorded from 1599, is from ἀρχαιολογία (arkhaiología), formed from ἀρχαῖος (arkhaîos, “ancient”) and λόγος (lógos).[2][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

Jouy uses it in 1812 in L'Hermite de la Chaussée d'Antin, listing l'archéologue among collectors and scholars with a passion for their study.[9][2]

Semantic evolution

Boiste's dictionary records it in 1813,[10] and Hatzfeld and Darmesteter call it a new word admitted by the Académie in 1835.[5] Its sense has stayed that of a specialist in archéologie, the study of past civilizations from their material remains.[9][3]

Timeline

  • 1812 – Jouy uses archéologue.[9][2]
  • 1813 – Boiste's dictionary records it.[10]
  • 1835 – The Académie admits the word.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An archaeologist, a specialist in archaeology.[3][11][1]
  • archéologie
  • archéologique
  • Ancient Greek ἀρχαιολόγος (arkhaiológos)

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
  5. ^ a b c Hatzfeld, Adolphe; Darmesteter, Arsène; Thomas, Antoine (1890–1900), Dictionnaire général de la langue française du commencement du XVIIe siècle jusqu'à nos jours, Paris: Delagrave
  6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
  8. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
  9. ^ a b c 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  11. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Archéologue.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/arch%C3%A9ologue. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·