citrique

Forms

citrique (plural citriques)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin citrus (“citron tree”) with the suffix -ique.^[2][3][4][1] It was coined by Guyton de Morveau in 1782 as a term of chemistry, the same year as citrate.^[2][5][6] Wiktionnaire derives it from citron instead.^[7]

Picoche thinks that the Latin word and Ancient Greek κέδρος (kédros, “cedar”) were probably borrowed separately from a Mediterranean language.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

Guyton de Morveau used it in 1782 for an acid found in lemons; the phrase acide citrique is recorded in Fourcroy's article in the Encyclopédie méthodique in 1792.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The word has kept its single chemical use, in acide citrique, the acid of lemons, currants and many other fruits.^[2][9][10] It was one of the terms of the new chemistry formed on the stem of Latin citrus, with citrate and later citral.^[6][8] In biochemistry the TLFi records cycle de l'acide citrique “citric acid cycle” in 1964.^[2]

Timeline

• 1782 – Guyton de Morveau coins the word.^[2][5]
• 1792 – Acide citrique appears in Fourcroy's article in the Encyclopédie méthodique.^[2]
• 1964 – Cycle de l'acide citrique is recorded.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (chemistry) Acide citrique: citric acid, an organic acid found in lemons and other fruits, used in food and drinks.^[10][2][11]
2. (biochemistry) Cycle de l'acide citrique: the citric acid cycle, by which cells draw energy from glucose.^[2][10]

Related words

• citron
• citrate
• citrin
• cédrat
• Latin citrus

References

1. ^ a b c 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
5. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
8. ^ a b Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
9. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
10. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)