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cumulatif

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Etymology and origin of the French word cumulatif

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1690 Furetière More words from the 17th century
Ultimate origin
Latin cumulō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin cumulus
French comble
English cumulus
Latin cumulō
French combler
French cumulatif
From the same root
English cumulative ← cumulō
Latin accumulō ← cumulō

Pronunciation

  • /ky.my.la.tif/[1]

Forms

cumulatif (feminine cumulative, masculine plural cumulatifs, feminine plural cumulatives)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French cumuler + -atif.[2][3][4] The verb is from Latin cumulō (“to heap up, accumulate”), beside the inherited combler.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Furetière records it in 1690 as a law term meaning “done by accumulation”.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

It began as a term of law: the Académie gave droit cumulatif from 1798, and Littré and the Académie of 1932 a disposition cumulative, one that repeats another with the same object.[2][5][6] Théophile Gautier used it of a person who combines several roles.[4] In modern use it applies to anything whose effects add up, in law, insurance, biology and economics.[2][7]

Timeline

  • 1690 – Furetière records it.[2][4]
  • 1798 – The Académie lists it as a law term, with droit cumulatif.[5][2]
  • before 1872 – Théophile Gautier uses it of a person.[4]
  • 1932 – The Académie records disposition cumulative.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (law) Proceeding by accumulation, or bearing on several objects.[2][7][4]
  2. (dated, law) Of a provision: duplicating another.[2][4]
  3. Cumulative: adding to what was there before and so increasing the overall effect: des effets cumulatifs sur la santé.[2][7]

Word family

  • cumulativement

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ a b Académie française (1798), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 5th ed., Paris: Smits
  6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert

Related etymologies

  • dix · also from Latin
  • préparer · also from Latin
  • jambe · also from Latin
  • doigt · also from Latin
  • or · also from Latin
  • sens · also from Latin
  • tendre · also from Latin
  • neuf · also from Latin
Cite this entry

“Cumulatif.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/cumulatif. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·