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diabétique

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Etymology and origin of the French word diabétique

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1577 Bernard de Gordon, Pratique More words from the 16th century
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek διαβαίνω

Pronunciation

  • /dja.be.tik/[1]

Forms

diabétique (plural diabétiques)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French diabète + -ique.[2][1][3]

That noun (1520) was borrowed from Late Latin diabētēs, from Ancient Greek διαβήτης (diabḗtēs), literally “that which passes through”, from διαβαίνω (diabaínō, “to pass through”).[2][4] The disease was named for the abundant flow of urine that marks it.[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record is passion diabétique, defined as an insatiable thirst, in the French translation of Bernard de Gordon's Pratique (1577).[2][4] Bloch and Wartburg, the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert note a first use in the 14th century.[5][6][3]

Semantic evolution

The word was rare before the 18th century;[4][6][5] Bloch and Wartburg date its modern use to 1793.[4][6][5] In the 19th century Littré records both the adjective, “of the nature of diabetes”, and the noun for a person who has the disease.[7] Today it refers chiefly to diabetes mellitus.[3]

Timeline

  • 14th century – A first use is recorded.[5][3]
  • 1520 – The noun diabète appears.[2][4]
  • 1577 – Passion diabétique appears in the French Pratique of Bernard de Gordon.[2][4]
  • 1793 – Bloch and Wartburg date its modern use.[5]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Relating to diabetes, especially diabetes mellitus: un coma diabétique.[3][8]
  2. Having diabetes, diabetic.[3][7]

Noun

  1. A person who has diabetes: un menu pour diabétiques.[3][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e 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 f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d e f Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Diabétique.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/diab%C3%A9tique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·