Etymologically
Log in

chloroforme

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the French word chloroforme

Confidence
Established
Formation
Coinage, Compound
First attested
1834 J.-B. Dumas, Annales de chimie et de physique More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
French chlore,formique
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French chloroforme
English chloroform

Pronunciation

  • /klɔ.ʁɔ.fɔʁm/[1]

Forms

chloroforme m (plural chloroformes)[1]

Etymology

It was coined in January 1834 by the chemist Jean-Baptiste Dumas, formed from French chlore + formique: its second part is form(yle), the radical of formic acid.[2][3][4][5] Dumas chose the name because the formula of the substance corresponds to a chloride equivalent to anhydrous formic acid.[2] Wurtz, cited by Bloch and Wartburg, explains it by the substance's property of forming potassium chloride and formic acid under an alcoholic solution of potash,[6] while Littré describes it as formic acid with its oxygen replaced by chlorine.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found on 13 January 1834, in Dumas's Recherches de chimie organique in the Annales de chimie et de physique, for the trichlorinated derivative of methane.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The word became common through the use of the liquid as an anaesthetic.[3] It gave the verb chloroformer (1856), which outlived a rival form chloroformiser (1847).[3] Figuratively, it can stand for anything that dulls the mind.[2]

English chloroform was taken from the French word in 1835.[8]

Timeline

  • 1834 – Dumas names chloroforme (13 January).[2][3]
  • 1835 – English chloroform is first recorded.[8]
  • 1847 – The verb chloroformiser appears.[3]
  • 1856 – The verb chloroformer appears.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (chemistry) Chloroform, a colourless, volatile liquid derived from methane, used as a solvent and formerly as an anaesthetic.[2][9][5]
  2. (figurative) Something that dulls or numbs the mind.[2]

Word family

  • chloroformer

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  9. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
Cite this entry

“Chloroforme.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/chloroforme. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·