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calorique

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Etymology and origin of the French word calorique

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1783 More words from the 18th century
From
Latin calor
Ultimate origin
Latin calor
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin caleō
French chaloir
Italian calere
Latin calor
French chaleur
Italian calore
Spanish calor
French calorique
English caloric
From the same root
Latin calefaciō ← caleō
Latin calēscō ← caleō
Latin calidus ← caleō
French calorie ← calor
Latin calōrātus ← calor

Pronunciation

  • /ka.lɔ.ʁik/[1]

Forms

calorique (plural caloriques)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin calor (“heat”), formed learnedly with the suffix -ique.[2][3][4][5] Rey describes it as a learned derivative coined as the name of heat thought of as a weighable fluid, a theory of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.[6] Etymonline says that Lavoisier coined it in this sense.[7] The Petit Robert treats the adjective of nutrition (1960) as a separate formation from calorie in its dietary sense.[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1783 as the name of the hypothetical principle of heat.[4][8] Lavoisier spoke of calorique libre, combiné and spécifique in 1789.[6]

Semantic evolution

The old sense, a fluid carrying heat, now belongs to the history of science.[6][2] In 1824 Sadi Carnot used the word for a measurable quantity of heat.[8] The Académie recorded calorique rayonnant “radiant heat” in 1835.[2]

The adjective appeared in 1864, in Renouvier's fluide calorique.[2][6] Today it describes what belongs to heat and, in physiology and then in dietetics, has become a common synonym of calorifique; from this use came the prefixed adjectives acalorique, hypocalorique and hypercalorique, which spread with the fashion for dieting.[6] The Petit Robert dates the sense “relating to the calories a food supplies” to 1960.[8] The adverb caloriquement is recorded in 1911.[6]

English borrowed the noun as caloric in 1792.[7]

Timeline

  • 1783 – First record, for the hypothetical principle of heat.[4][8][5]
  • 1787 – Date given by the DHLF and the Grand Robert.[6][3]
  • 1789 – Lavoisier distinguishes calorique libre, combiné and spécifique.[6]
  • 1792 – The Encyclopédie méthodique uses the noun.[2]
  • 1792 – English caloric is borrowed from the French word.[7]
  • 1824 – Sadi Carnot uses it for a measurable quantity of heat.[8]
  • 1835 – The Académie records calorique rayonnant.[2]
  • 1864 – First use as an adjective, in Renouvier.[2][6]
  • 1911 – The adverb caloriquement appears.[6]
  • 1960 – The adjective is used of the calories in food.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (dated) The hypothetical fluid once thought to make up heat.[8][9][2]
  2. (history of science) A measurable quantity of heat, heat energy.[8][2]

Adjective

  1. Relating to heat or to quantities of heat.[9][10]
  2. Relating to the calories a food supplies, energy-giving: Ce dessert est très calorique.[8][11][9]
  3. Ration calorique: the amount of food an organism needs, considered only for its energy value.[4][9]

Word family

  • hypocalorique
  • hypercalorique
  • acalorique
  • caloriquement

References

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

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Calorique.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/calorique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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