cireux

Forms

cireux (feminine cireuse, masculine plural cireux, feminine plural cireuses)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French cire + -eux, on the model of Latin cērōsus (“rich in wax”).^[2][3][4] The TLFi gives 1561 as the first sure date;^[2] Dauzat put it at the beginning of the 16th century, and the FEW and Bloch–Wartburg at 1542.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in Rivaudeau's play Aman, performed in 1561, in aile cireuse, a wing fixed with wax.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In 1584 a translation of Horace's Odes used it for “white as wax”, and in 1611 Cotgrave glossed it “of wax, full of wax”.^[2] The word went out of use in the 17th century and was taken up again in the second half of the 19th, first by the Goncourts in 1856 for the colour of wax.^[3][2] Matières cireuses is found in 1876.^[2] Today it describes what has the consistency, the look or the pale yellowish colour of wax, especially a sickly complexion.^[3][5]

Timeline

• 1561 – Aile cireuse in Rivaudeau's Aman.^[2]
• 1584 – Les cireux bras “arms white as wax” in a translation of Horace.^[2]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records it.^[2]
• 1856 – The Goncourts revive it for the colour of wax.^[2][3][5]
• 1876 – Matières cireuses in the Journal officiel.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Having the consistency of wax: une substance cireuse.^[5][2][6]
2. Looking as if waxed, glossy: des feuilles cireuses.^[6]
3. Of the pale yellowish colour of wax, sallow: un visage cireux.^[5][2][6]

Related words

• cire
• Latin cērōsus

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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 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 c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse