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Etymology and origin of the French word endocrine

Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1897 Laguesse More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek ἔνδον,κρίνω

Forms

endocrine adjective, chiefly feminine (of glands)[1][2]

Etymology

It is a compound from French endo- + -crine, the second element taken from Ancient Greek κρίνω (krínō, “to separate, to secrete”).[1][3][4][5] The prefix is from ἔνδον (éndon, “within”).[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Grand Robert dates the word to 1897, in the physiologist Laguesse, after Cottez.[3] The TLFi's first record is glandes endocrines in an article by Gottignies in the Brussels Policlinique, October 1912.[1][6]

Semantic evolution

The word was formed for the glands of internal secretion, which pour their products straight into the blood, as opposed to the exocrine glands.[1][7][4] By extension it qualifies the secreting function itself (fonction endocrine, sécrétion endocrine), and it is sometimes used as a noun for an endocrine gland.[1][4] The Petit Robert dates it to 1919.[7]

Timeline

  • 1897 – Laguesse uses the word.[3]
  • 1912 – Glandes endocrines in Gottignies's article.[1]
  • 1919 – The date given by the Petit Robert.[7]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (physiology) Of a gland or cell: pouring its secretions (hormones) directly into the blood, as opposed to exocrine: les glandes endocrines de l’organisme.[1][7][4][8]
  2. Relating to internal sécrétion: la fonction endocrine du pancréas.[1][4]

Word family

  • endocrinien
  • endocrinologie
  • exocrine

References

  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  3. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
  5. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
  7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Endocrine.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/endocrine. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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