chaotique

Forms

chaotique (plural chaotiques)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French chaos + -ique, with ⟨t⟩ inserted as a linking consonant.^[2][3][1][4]

The noun was borrowed in 1377 from Latin chaos, which is from Ancient Greek χάος (kháos).^[3][4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1838, in the Complément to the Académie's dictionary, in learned contexts.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The adjective was at first used in learned writing, of the original chaos before the ordering of the world, and only spread about 1890.^[3][2] By extension it came to describe anything confused or disordered, first concrete things such as a landscape (Académie, 1932) and then abstract ones.^[2][5] The adverb chaotiquement is recorded from 1928, in Romain Rolland.^[2][3]

Timeline

• 1838 – First record, in the Complément to the Académie's dictionary.^[2]
• 1845 – Bescherelle records the word.^[6]
• c. 1890 – The adjective spreads beyond learned use.^[3]
• 1928 – The adverb chaotiquement appears.^[2]
• 1932 – The Académie gives un paysage chaotique.^[2][5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. chaotic: that looks like a chaos; confused, disordered, without harmony, as in un amas chaotique de rochers or une carrière chaotique.^[7][8][9][2]
2. (technical) Relating to the original chaos; in a shapeless, undifferentiated state.^[7][2]

Related words

• chaos

References

1. ^ a b c d 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 e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
9. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)