désinfectant

Forms

désinfectant (feminine désinfectante, masculine plural désinfectants, feminine plural désinfectantes)^[1]

Etymology

Used as an adjective and a noun, it is the present participle from French désinfecter.^[2][3][4] The verb, recorded from 1556, is formed from French dé- + infecter.^[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Rey and the Petit Robert date the adjective to 1803 and the noun to 1820;^[7][4] the Grand Robert and the GLLF give 1812, from Capuron, as the first record,^[2][3] and the BHVF adds an 1816 record in the Encyclopédie méthodique.^[8] It meant “having the power to disinfect”.^[3]

Semantic evolution

The verb désinfecter was rare until the early 18th century, when it was used figuratively (before 1704, of ridding oneself of an opinion); it became common in the early 19th century with the progress of hygiene, and désinfectant appeared at that time.^[7] Littré defines the noun as a substance that destroys bad smells chemically, and notes that the name was also loosely given to substances that only mask them, such as vinegar vapour or burnt sugar.^[9] The TLFi also records a figurative use, of something that cleanses the mind or morals.^[5]

Timeline

• 1556 – The verb désinfecter is first recorded.^[5][7]
• 1803 – First record of the adjective désinfectant.^[7][4]
• 1812 – Capuron uses the word.^[2][3][8]
• 1820 – The noun un désinfectant is recorded.^[7][4]
• 1878 – The Académie's dictionary includes the word.^[8]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Disinfecting: able to destroy germs or infection: une solution désinfectante pour les mains.^[4][5][1]

Noun

1. A disinfectant, a chemical or physical agent that kills microbes: Elle a nettoyé la table avec un désinfectant.^[5][4][1]
2. (medicine) A substance with antiseptic properties used to destroy pathogenic germs.^[4]
3. (figurative) Something that cleanses or purifies morally.^[5]

Related words

• désinfecter
• désinfection
• infecter
• infect
• infection

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f 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
6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
9. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette