entomologie

Forms

entomologie f (plural entomologies)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French entomo- + -logie.^[2][3][4] The first element comes from Ancient Greek ἔντομον (éntomon, “insect”), the neuter of an adjective used as a noun, from a verb meaning “to cut into”, made of ἐν (en, “in”) and τέμνω (témnō, “to cut”).^[5] The second goes back to λόγος (lógos, “discourse, science”).^[6][7][4] Rey notes that insecte rests on the same image of a body cut into segments.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1745, when Bonnet, in the preface to his Traité d'insectologie, wrote that he had feared entomologie, “all Greek”, would shock French ears.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

It named from the start the branch of zoology that studies insects, and Rey observes that it is about as old as the word zoologie.^[5] The TLFi defines it more broadly as the study of jointed animals, especially insects.^[2] By metonymy it also names a reference work on insects.^[5][6] The Académie lists phrases such as cours d'entomologie from 1835.^[2] Its derivatives followed soon: entomologique (1762 in the Petit Robert, 1789 in Rey) and entomologiste (1783).^[8][5] English entomology is dated 1764 and taken from French.^[9]

Timeline

• 1745 – Bonnet uses the word, apologising for its Greek form.^[2]
• 1764 – English entomology appears, from the French word.^[9]
• 1783 – Entomologiste is first recorded.^[5]
• 1835 – The Académie dictionary includes it.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. The branch of zoology that studies insects (and, more broadly, other arthropods).^[2][8][10]
2. A book or treatise on insects.^[6][5]

Word family

• entomologique
• entomologiste

Related words

• insecte
• zoologie
• Ancient Greek ἔντομον (éntomon)

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
5. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)