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homéopathique

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Etymology and origin of the French word homéopathique

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1827 J. Bigel, Examen théorique et pratique de la méthode curative du Dr. Hahnemann More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
German Homöopathie

Pronunciation

  • /ɔ.me.ɔ.pa.tik/[1]

Forms

homéopathique (plural homéopathiques)[1] The older spelling homœopathique is also found.[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French homéopathie + -ique.[3][4][1] That noun was introduced into French in 1827 by J. Bigel, from German Homöopathie, the name the German physician S. Hahnemann gave to his method, built on Greek words for “similar” and “what one suffers”.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in 1827, in J. Bigel's account of Hahnemann's method, in the phrase remèdes homéopathiques “homeopathic remedies”.[3]

Semantic evolution

From the start it meant “relating to homeopathy”, the method of treating disease with very small doses.[3][1] Because those doses are tiny, Baudelaire's dose homéopathique (1846) came to mean figuratively “a very small amount”.[3][2] The adverb homéopathiquement is found in a letter of Mérimée in 1830, spelt oméopathiquement.[3]

Timeline

  • 1827 – First record, in J. Bigel's book on Hahnemann's method.[3][2]
  • 1830 – Mérimée writes the adverb oméopathiquement.[3]
  • 1846 – Baudelaire uses dose homéopathique of a tiny amount.[3][2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Relating to homeopathy, or done according to its principles: des remèdes homéopathiques.[3][5]
  2. À dose homéopathique (figurative): in a very small, infinitesimal amount.[5][2]

Word family

  • homéopathiquement
  • homéopathie
  • homéopathe
  • allopathique

Usage notes

Its opposite is allopathique.[3][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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
  4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Homéopathique.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/hom%C3%A9opathique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·