bisexuel

Forms

bisexuel (feminine bisexuelle, masculine plural bisexuels, feminine plural bisexuelles)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French bi- + sexuel.^[1][2] The Grand Robert takes it from bisexe, remodelled after the adjective,^[3] and the Petit Robert from the prefix and Latin sexus (“sex”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is recorded in 1826, first in biology for an organism having both sexes, the sense now given by bisexué.^[3][4][2][5] Wiktionary reports a botanical use for “hermaphroditic” as early as 1778.^[1]

Semantic evolution

In psychology it came to describe what concerns both sexes in one human being.^[2] The sense “attracted to both men and women” is found in literary use in the early 20th century: Alain-Fournier writes of a man bisexuel in a letter of 1906.^[5] This is now the usual sense, also as a noun, shortened in familiar speech to bi.^[2][6] It was also used of a group made up of persons of both sexes.^[5] The derivative bisexualité dates from 1894.^[4]

Timeline

• 1826 – First record of bisexuel.^[3][4]
• 1845 – Bescherelle records bisexué, formed on the stem of bisexuel.^[5]
• 1894 – The noun bisexualité appears.^[4]
• 1906 – Alain-Fournier uses it of a man attracted to both sexes.^[5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (biology, dated) Having both sexes, bisexué.^[2][5]
2. (psychology) Relating to both sexes in the same person.^[2][6]
3. bisexual, sexually attracted to both men and women: il a toujours dit qu'il était bisexuel.^[2][6]

Noun

1. A bisexual person.^[2][6]

Word family

• bisexualité
• bisexué

Related words

• sexuel
• homosexuel
• sexe

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f 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
6. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)