cinématique

Forms

cinématique f (countable and uncountable, plural cinématiques)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek κινηματικός (kinēmatikós), a scientific borrowing made by Ampère, from κίνημα (kínēma, “movement”).^[2][3][4][5] The TLFi instead describes it as formed on the stem of the Greek word for “movement” with the suffix -ique.^[6][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Ampère introduced it as a noun for the science of motion in his Essai sur la philosophie des sciences, dated 1834 by most dictionaries and “before 1836” by the TLFi.^[6][2][3]

Semantic evolution

The noun names the part of mechanics that studies motion without regard to the forces that cause it;^[7][5] Littré recorded it as a word proposed to replace mécanique for the abstract science of movement.^[7][5] The adjective qualifies what relates to the motion of bodies and its study,^[2] and is used figuratively of a view of things in movement.^[6][8] The adverb cinématiquement is recorded from 1874.^[6] In video games the noun now also names a cutscene.^[1]

Timeline

• 1834 – Ampère introduces the word.^[2][3][4]
• 1874 – First record of cinématiquement.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. (physics) Kinematics, the part of mechanics that studies motion apart from the forces that produce it.^[7][4][6]
2. (video games) A cutscene.^[1]

Adjective

1. Kinematic, relating to motion: viscosité cinématique.^[6][4][1]

Word family

• cinématiquement

Related words

• cinéma
• cinématographe
• Ancient Greek κίνημα (kínēma)

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ 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
7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF