gazeux

Forms

gazeux (feminine gazeuse, masculine plural gazeux, feminine plural gazeuses)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French gaz + -eux.^[2][3][4][5] The noun gaz was coined by the Flemish physician van Helmont (1577–1644), after Latin chaos, itself from Ancient Greek χάος (kháos); in Flemish ⟨ch⟩ was pronounced close to ⟨g⟩.^[4][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1775, in Grignon's Mémoires, of a liquid containing gas.^[2][7][8]

Semantic evolution

The sense “relating to gases, of the nature of a gas” followed in 1809 (Wailly), when the chemistry of Priestley and Lavoisier had given gaz its modern meaning.^[7][8][4] The everyday sense “containing dissolved carbon dioxide” gave boisson gazeuse and eau gazeuse.^[8][9] The feminine noun gazeuse “a fizzy drink”, familiar and now dated, is recorded by Littré in 1865.^[7][10] In medicine the word appears in gangrène gazeuse (20th century) and embolie gazeuse.^[7][9]

Timeline

• 1775 – First record, in Grignon's Mémoires.^[2][7]
• 1809 – Wailly records the sense “of the nature of a gas”.^[7][8]
• 1865 – Littré records the noun gazeuse “fizzy drink”.^[7]
• 20th century – Gangrène gazeuse is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (physics, chemistry) Relating to gas, in the form of a gas: l'état gazeux, as opposed to the liquid and solid states.^[9][11][2]
2. Containing dissolved carbon dioxide; fizzy, sparkling: une eau gazeuse, une boisson gazeuse.^[9][11][1]
3. (medicine) In gangrène gazeuse “gas gangrene” and embolie gazeuse “air embolism”.^[9][7]

Noun

1. (dated, familiar) Gazeuse (feminine): a fizzy drink.^[7][10]

Related words

• gaz
• gazéifier
• gazier

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d 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 c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
6. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
11. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)