endosmose

Forms

endosmose f^[2][3]

Etymology

It was coined by the physiologist Dutrochet.^[2][4] The TLFi analyses it from French endo- + osmose;^[2] the Grand Robert and the GLLF instead take the second part as an adaptation of Ancient Greek ὠσμός (ōsmós, “push, thrust”), from ὠθέω (ōthéō, “to push”), the first part being from ἔνδον (éndon, “within”).^[5][6][7] In fact osmose is the later word, cut out of this word and exosmose.^[8][2] Littré called the formation irregular, since Greek has no corresponding noun.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in 1826 in Dutrochet's Nouvelles recherches sur l'endosmose, for the current of water passing inward through a membrane.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

Dutrochet introduced endosmose together with its opposite exosmose in his work on aqueous solutions.^[4] Littré defined it as the inward current through a membrane between two liquids of different density, and noted a loose extension in which endosmose meant the stronger of the two currents, whatever its direction.^[7] The later osmose was taken from the pair.^[8]

The word is also used figuratively of two people or things influencing each other; the TLFi quotes Montherlant (1937) on married life.^[2]

Timeline

• 1826 – Dutrochet uses it in his Nouvelles recherches sur l'endosmose.^[2][5]
• 1828 – The GLLF's date for Dutrochet's use.^[6]
• 1872 – Osmose is drawn from endosmose and exosmose.^[8]
• 1937 – Montherlant uses it figuratively.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. (physics, biology) endosmosis: osmosis in which the solvent passes from outside into a closed compartment, through a semipermeable membrane, toward the more concentrated solution.^[2][3][6]
2. The passage of water into living cells whose contents are more concentrated than the surrounding liquid.^[9]
3. (figurative) Mutual influence or exchange.^[2]

Related words

• exosmose
• osmose
• endo-
• Ancient Greek ὠσμός (ōsmós)
• English endosmosis

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
9. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)