conique

Forms

conique (plural coniques)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek κωνικός (kōnikós, “cone-shaped”), a late Greek adjective derived from κῶνος (kônos, “cone”).^{[2][3][4][1][5]} Wiktionary notes that it can also be analysed as cône with the suffix -ique.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1624, in Henri de Meynier's Paradoxes against the mathematicians, in superficie conique “conical surface”, writing on the books of Archimedes.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The mathematician Desargues used it as a feminine noun, before 1640, for a curve made by cutting a cone with a plane that does not pass through its apex.^[3][4] The everyday sense “shaped like a cone” is recorded by Furetière in 1690.^[2] Littré records the pendule conique, a governor on steam engines.^[5] The derivative conicité dates from 1833.^[2]

Timeline

• 1624 – First recorded, in Henri de Meynier.^[2][3]
• before 1640 – Desargues uses it as a noun for a conic section.^[3][4]
• 1690 – Furetière records the sense “cone-shaped”.^[2]
• 1803 – Chateaubriand uses it as a noun.^[2]
• 1833 – The derivative conicité appears.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Conical, shaped like a cône: un chapeau conique.^[6][7][8]
2. (geometry) Relating to a cone: surface conique, section conique.^[6][9][2]

Noun

1. (geometry) A conic section, such as the ellipse, parabole² or hyperbole.^[6][7][9]

Word family

• conicité
• tronconique

Related words

• cône
• conifère
• Ancient Greek κῶνος (kônos)

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
8. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
9. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse