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divergent

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Etymology and origin of the French word divergent

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 1626 letter of Mydorge in the correspondence of Mersenne More words from the 17th century
Borrowed from
Latin divergens
Ultimate origin
Latin vergō

Pronunciation

  • /di.vɛʁ.ʒɑ̃/[1]

Forms

divergent (feminine divergente, masculine plural divergents, feminine plural divergentes)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from New Latin dīvergēns (“diverging”), first a term of physics,[2][3][4] the present participle of dīvergō.[2][5][6] Kepler used the Latin participle of rays in 1611, in his Dioptrice.[2][3] The Latin verb, which in Late Latin meant “to lean, incline”, was formed as the opposite of convergō, from dī- and vergō (“to turn, incline”).[2][1] The French verb diverger was borrowed only later, in 1785.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record, about 1626 in a letter of Mydorge in Mersenne's correspondence, is in physics: rayons divergens, rays that spread out from a point.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

From optics the word passed into other sciences: botany used it of branches that spread away from the stem (1778, Lamarck),[2][3] and mathematics of a series or function that does not converge.[2][7] The figurative sense “not in agreement, opposed”, as of interests or opinions, is recorded in 1823 in Las Cases's Mémorial de Sainte-Hélène;[2][3] the GLLF and the Petit Robert date it to 1792.[8][6]

Timeline

  • 1611 – Kepler writes radii divergentes in Latin.[2]
  • c. 1626 – Divergens is used of rays in a letter of Mydorge.[2]
  • 1778 – Lamarck applies it to branches in botany.[2]
  • 1792 – The figurative sense “differing” appears, according to the GLLF.[8][6]
  • 1823 – Las Cases writes of divergent interests.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Diverging, going off in different directions from a common point: des lignes divergentes, des rayons divergents.[6][2]
  2. (optics) Of a lens or mirror: making parallel rays spread apart: lentille divergente.[6][8]
  3. (mathematics) Of a series or sequence: having no finite limit.[6][2]
  4. (botany) Of branches: spreading away from the stem.[2][7]
  5. (medicine) Strabisme divergent: an outward squint.[6]
  6. (figurative) Differing, not in agreement: Ils ont des avis divergents sur la question.[6][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 1132a
  5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Divergent.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/divergent. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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