benzène

Forms

benzène m (uncountable)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French benz- + -ène, an element taken from benzoïque (“benzoic”).^[2][3][4][5] The chemist A. Laurent introduced it in 1835.^[2][3] Guyton de Morveau had formed the adjective in 1787 from the botanists' New Latin benzoe, benzoinum, a Latinisation of benjoin (“benzoin resin”).^[6][5] The resin's name came from Catalan benjuí, from Arabic لُبَان جَاوِيّ (lubān jāwiyy, “frankincense of Java”).^[6][1]

The substance had been discovered by Faraday in 1825 and named benzine (from German Benzin) by Mitscherlich in 1833.^[6][2] The GLLF, which derives the word directly from the botanists' Latin term, dates it only to 1878.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Laurent uses it in 1835 in the Annales de chimie et de physique (“benzène ou benzine”), in a classification of compounds, for a “fundamental radical”; according to the TLFi he apparently meant by it the hypothetical radical that Wöhler and Liebig had called benzoyl.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Benzène came to name the liquid hydrocarbon got from coal tar, displacing benzine in this sense;^[6] benzine then became the name of the commercial mixture of hydrocarbons sold as a solvent and stain remover.^[6] The Grand Robert notes that Mitscherlich had called the substance benzion.^[3] With the derivative benzénique (1878), the word gave names to many compounds used in the dye and explosives industries, such as nitrobenzène (1838).^[6][2]

English benzene was proposed in 1835 and came into use from 1838.^[8]

Timeline

• 1825 – Faraday discovers the substance and calls it bicarburet of hydrogen.^[6][2]
• 1833 – Mitscherlich names it Benzin in German.^[6][2]
• 1835 – A. Laurent uses benzène in the Annales de chimie et de physique.^[2][3]
• 1838 – Nitrobenzène is recorded.^[6]
• 1878 – The Larousse records the adjective benzénique;^[2] the GLLF dates the noun itself to the same year.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. (chemistry) benzene, an aromatic hydrocarbon (C6H6), a colourless, flammable and toxic liquid extracted from coal tar, used as a solvent of fats.^[4][2][9][5]

Word family

• benzénique
• nitrobenzène

Related words

• benzine
• benzoïque
• benjoin
• benzol
• English benzene

Usage notes

The Académie notes that benzene is sold as a solvent under the name benzine.^[5]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)