graphite

Forms

graphite m (plural graphites)^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned formation from Ancient Greek γράφω (gráphō, “to write”) with the suffix -ite, the substance being used to make pencil leads.^[2][3][4] The TLFi notes that the German word Graphit was already in use in 1789;^[2] Etymonline credits it to the German mineralogist Abraham Gottlob Werner, who coined it that year from the same Greek verb and the mineral suffix,^[5] and Wiktionary treats the French word as borrowed from German.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert date it to 1799, in Haüy;^[3][6] the TLFi and the GLLF give 1801, in Haüy's Traité de minéralogie, for crystallised carbon.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Littré describes it as a nearly pure carbon, also called plombagine, from which the so-called lead pencils are made;^[7] the older names plombagine and mine de plomb remain synonyms.^[4][8] In the 20th century it also named the material of electrodes and of the neutron moderators of nuclear reactors.^[2][6] The verb graphiter means to coat a part with graphite to lubricate it.^[2]

English graphite, recorded in 1796, also comes from German.^[5]

Timeline

• 1789 – German Graphit is in use.^[2][5]
• 1796 – English graphite is recorded.^[5]
• 1799 – First French record, in Haüy.^[3][6]
• 1801 – Haüy uses it in his Traité de minéralogie.^[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. Graphite, natural or synthetic crystallised carbon, grey-black, soft and friable, a good conductor of electricity, used for pencil leads, lubricants, electrodes and as a neutron moderator.^[2][6][8]

Word family

• graphiter

Related words

• plombagine
• graphique
• graphie
• graphisme
• Ancient Greek γράφω (gráphō)
• German Graphit
• English graphite

References

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