cosmétique

Forms

cosmétique m (plural cosmétiques)^[1] As a noun it is masculine for a beauty product and feminine for the branch of hygiene.^[2][3][1] The first, isolated record has the form commatique.^[3][4]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek κοσμητικός (kosmētikós, “relating to adornment”),^[3][4][5][6] a derivative of κόσμος (kósmos) in its sense “ornament”,^[4][7][5] through κοσμέω (kosméō, “to arrange, adorn”).^[1][8] The noun for the art of adornment was Greek κοσμητική (kosmētikḗ), with “art” understood.^[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found once among the medieval physicians, as the adjective commatique in Chauliac's Grande chirurgie (1363).^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

The modern form appears in 1555 (Aneau) as an adjective for “ornamental, relating to beauty care”.^[3][4][7] It was used as a masculine noun for a product that keeps the skin and hair beautiful from 1676,^[3][5] and in the 19th century especially for a pomade that fixes the hair and moustache.^[4][2] The feminine noun (1754, the Encyclopédie) names the part of hygiene that deals with the use of cosmetics.^[3][4]

A figurative sense taken from the English word cosmetic, “superficial, meant to be seen rather than to have real effects”, is applied to measures and announced policies;^[4] the Robert labels it pejorative.^[9]

Timeline

• 1363 – Commatique in Chauliac's Grande chirurgie.^[3][4]
• 1555 – The form cosmetique in Aneau.^[3][7]
• 1676 – First record as a masculine noun.^[3][5]
• 1690 – Furetière uses the noun for a beauty product for the skin.^[7]
• 1754 – The Encyclopédie has the feminine noun.^[3][5]
• Mid-19th century – The noun names a hair-fixing product.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Relating to beauty care, used to embellish the skin, hair or nails: produits cosmétiques.^[2][9][10]
2. (pejorative) Superficial, improving only appearances.^[9][4]

Noun

1. (masculine, usually plural) A cosmetic, a beauty product.^[2][9][1]
2. (masculine, dated) A product used to fix and gloss the hair or moustache, a pomade.^[2][7][4]
3. (feminine) The branch of hygiene concerned with beauty and care products.^[2][9][3]

Related words

• cosmétologie
• cosmos

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d e Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)