fluorescence

Forms

fluorescence f (plural fluorescences)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from English fluorescence, coined in 1852 by the physicist George Stokes.^[2][3][4][5] Stokes formed the English word on fluor, the mineral fluorspar in which he first noticed the effect, from Latin fluor (“a flowing”).^[2][3][4][6] The model was opalescence according to the TLFi and the DHLF, phosphorescence according to the Robert dictionaries, the GLLF and Etymonline.^{[2][3][7][8][9][4]}

The French word is first found in 1856,^[3][8][10] while the TLFi and the GLLF give 1865, from Littré.^[2][9]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1856 in the Annales de chimie et de physique, where E. Verdet reports Stokes's methods for detecting fluorescence in bodies that show it only weakly.^[10]

Semantic evolution

The word names the emission of light by a body that receives radiation of another wavelength.^[3][9] Early on the TLFi cites the view that fluorescence is only a very short-lived phosphorescence.^[2] By metonymy it came in the 20th century to mean the light itself, or a similar glow.^[9][2]

Its family grew around it: fluorescent (1864, from fluorescence or from English fluorescent), fluorescéine in chemistry (1878) and the verb fluorescer in physics (1962).^[3]

Timeline

• 1852 – Stokes coins English fluorescence.^[2][3][4]
• 1856 – First French record, in the Annales de chimie et de physique.^[10][3]
• 1864 – The adjective fluorescent appears.^[3]
• 1865 – Littré enters the word.^[2][9]
• 1878 – Fluorescéine is recorded.^[3]
• 20th century – It is used for the light emitted.^[9]
• 1962 – The verb fluorescer is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (physics) fluorescence, the property of some substances of giving out light under radiation, which stops when the radiation stops.^{[8][11][12][5]}
2. The light given out by a fluorescent body, or a glow like it.^[2][9][5]

Word family

• fluorescent
• fluorescéine
• fluorescer

Related words

• fluor
• phosphorescence
• opalescence
• English fluorescence

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 g h i j k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 644a
7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
10. ^ a b c Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
11. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
12. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)