désinfecter

Forms

désinfecter^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French dés- + infecter.^{[2][3][4][1][5]} The base verb, recorded in 1416, is a derivative of infect, from Latin īnfectus, the past participle of īnficiō, properly “to mix”, then “to dye” and “to stain”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1556 in Noguier's Histoire tolosaine.^[2][3][4]

Semantic evolution

The verb seems to have been rare before the early 18th century, when it took a figurative sense, now lost: se désinfecter d'une opinion, to rid oneself of an opinion (before 1704).^[6][2] It became common at the start of the 19th century with the progress of hygiene, when désinfectant (1803) and désinfecteur (1834) appeared.^[6] Désinfection (1788) serves as its noun.^[3][6]

Timeline

• 1556 – First record, in Noguier.^[2]
• before 1704 – Figurative use, recorded in the Dictionnaire de Trévoux.^[2]
• 1788 – The noun désinfection appears.^[3]
• 1803 – The derivative désinfectant appears.^[6]
• 1835 – The Académie records désinfecter l'air.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To disinfect: to destroy the germs in a place, object or wound: désinfecter une coupure, désinfecter la salle d'attente.^[7][2][8]
2. (figurative) To purify of moral or spiritual corruption.^[2]

Word family

• désinfectant
• désinfection

Related words

• infecter
• infect
• infection

References

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