explosion

Forms

explosion f (plural explosions)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin explōsiō (“driving off by clapping, hissing off; expulsion”).^[2][3][4][5] The revised TLF notice takes the first, medical sense “expulsion” from Latin, where it is recorded from the 4th century, and the sense “bursting” from scientific Latin, where the noun is found in 1580.^[2] The Latin noun is formed from the supine of explōdō (“to drive off by clapping, hiss off”), from ex- and plaudō (“to strike, clap”), the source of applaudir.^[3][6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

In 1581 François Rousset, writing on caesarean birth, uses explosion in physiology for the expulsion of the child.^[2] The older TLFi read it as “sudden onset of symptoms”, a medical sense Rey says it kept, for instance of an epidemic.^[8][3]

Semantic evolution

From 1689 it named the violent release of gas when powder takes fire, at first in comparisons with gunpowder;^[2][5] Furetière's dictionary (1701) is the first to record it, as a term of physics.^[2][5] The noise of a blast, a detonation, is recorded from 1741, and the phrase moteur à explosion “internal combustion engine” from 1883.^[2][3]

Phonetics took it up in 1767 (Beauzée) for the release of a stop consonant.^[2][9] Figuratively it has meant a sudden outburst of feeling from 1764 (explosion des passions); from 1781 it has also meant the sudden, spectacular growth of something, later as in explosion démographique.^[2][3] The derived verb exploser dates from 1801.^[5]

Timeline

• 1581 – Rousset uses it in physiology for “expulsion”.^[2]
• 1689 – Lange compares a violent fermentation to the explosion of gunpowder.^[2]
• 1701 – Furetière records it as a term of physics.^[2][5]
• 1741 – Col de Vilars uses it for the bang made by powder.^[2]
• 1764 – L'explosion des passions, of feelings.^[2]
• 1767 – Beauzée uses it in phonetics.^[2][8]
• 1781 – Court de Gébelin uses it for a sudden spread of ideas.^[2]
• 1801 – The verb exploser appears.^[5]
• 1883 – Moteurs à explosion in a chemistry journal.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. The violent bursting of something, often throwing out fragments; in science, the very rapid release of gas under pressure: l'explosion d'une mine.^[10][11][2]
2. The noise of a blast, a detonation.^[2]
3. Moteur à explosion: an internal combustion engine.^[2][3]
4. (phonetics) The sudden opening of the vocal tract that releases a stop consonant.^[2]
5. (figurative) A sudden, violent outburst of feeling: explosion de colère.^[2][3]
6. (figurative) A sudden, spectacular growth: explosion démographique.^[3][2]

Word family

• exploseur
• exploser
• explosible
• explosif

Related words

• applaudir
• Latin explōdō

References

1. ^ a b 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 q r s t u v Steinfeld, Nadine; Buchi, Éva, eds. (2005–), TLF-Étym: révision des notices étymologiques du Trésor de la langue française informatisé, Nancy: ATILF
3. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. 3, 312b
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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b 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
9. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
10. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)