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géographique

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Etymology and origin of the French word géographique

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1532 Jean Parmentier More words from the 16th century
Borrowed from
Latin geographicus
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek γεωγραφία
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin geōgraphicus
French géographique
From the same root
English geographical ← geōgraphicus

Pronunciation

  • /ʒe.ɔ.ɡʁa.fik/[1]

Forms

géographique (plural géographiques)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin geōgraphicus,[2][3][4] from Ancient Greek γεωγραφικός (geōgraphikós, “of the description of the earth”),[4][5] from γεωγραφία (geōgraphía, “geography”).[4][3] Géographe was borrowed in the same year, from Late Latin geōgraphus.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1532 as geographique, in the poems of Jean Parmentier, meaning “relating to geography”.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The word has kept its sense “relating to geography”, in phrases such as carte géographique.[2][6] The GLLF gives 1545 (Jacquinot) as its date, later than the TLFi's.[5] The adverb géographiquement is recorded before 1559.[2][3] In biology, race or forme géographique is a variety of a species peculiar to one region.[7][5]

Timeline

  • 1532 – First recorded in Jean Parmentier.[2][3]
  • Before 1559 – The adverb geografiquement appears.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. geographic, geographical: relating to geography: un atlas géographique, la situation géographique d'une ville.[6][2][7]
  2. (biology) Race géographique, forme géographique: a variety of a species found in one region.[7][5]

Word family

  • géographiquement

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. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Géographique.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/g%C3%A9ographique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·