carbone

Forms

carbone m (uncountable)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin carbō (“charcoal”), made in 1787 for the new chemical nomenclature.^[2][3][4][5] The same Latin word gave charbon by inherited descent, so the two are doublets.^[3][1] The TLFi takes the first record from Guyton de Morveau's book on chemical nomenclature;^[2] Wiktionary says Lavoisier coined it in 1789, and Etymonline that Lavoisier coined it in 1787.^[1][6] Rey finds the proposed comparison with Gothic and Old Church Slavonic words for “coal” and “fire” remote, since it does not explain the ⟨b⟩.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in 1787, in Guyton de Morveau's Nomenclature chimique, as the name of a chemical element.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

The word names a non-metallic element found pure in nature as diamond and graphite and, combined with other elements, in coal, petroleum and every living body.^[2][3] Its first derivatives belong to the same nomenclature of Lavoisier, Guyton de Morveau and their colleagues: carboné and carbonique (1787);^[3] carbure was drawn from carbone in 1795.^[4] In the 20th century carbone 14 named the radioactive isotope used to date archaeological and geological material.^[3]

English took carbon from the French word in 1789.^[6] The French compound papier carbone (1914) was then calqued on English carbon paper, and was shortened to carbone.^[3][2]

Timeline

• 1787 – Guyton de Morveau's Nomenclature chimique has carbone.^[2]
• 1787 – The derivatives carboné and carbonique appear.^[3]
• 1789 – English carbon is borrowed from French.^[6]
• 1795 – Carbure is formed from carbone.^[4]
• 1914 – Papier carbone is first recorded.^[2][3]
• 20th century – Carbone 14 names the radioactive isotope.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (chemistry) carbon, the chemical element of symbol C and atomic number 6, found as diamant and graphite and in all living matter.^[7][8][2]
2. Carbone 14: the radioactive isotope of carbon, used in radiocarbon dating.^[7][8][9]
3. Oxyde de carbone: carbon monoxide, a toxic gas.^[7][8]
4. Papier carbone, or simply carbone: carbon paper, used to make copies.^[8][9][3]

Related words

• charbon
• carbonique
• carboné
• carbure
• Latin carbō
• English carbon

References

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