hygiénique

Forms

hygiénique (plural hygiéniques)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French hygiène + -ique.^[2][3][4][5] The base noun, recorded from 1575 in Paré, is from Ancient Greek ὑγιεινόν (hugieinón, “health”), the neuter used as a noun of ὑγιεινός (hugieinós, “good for the health, concerning health”), from ὑγιής (hugiḗs, “healthy, sound”).^[2][4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears, in isolation, as a feminine noun in Cotgrave's dictionary (1611), meaning preventive medicine.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The noun was taken up again by Boiste in 1803 but was soon replaced by hygiène;^[2][3][5] Littré still lists it as little used.^[2][3][5] The adjective dates from 1791 according to the Robert and the DHLF, but only from 1812 according to the TLFi; it first meant “relating to hygiene”, then “relating to bodily cleanliness”, now its commonest sense.^[6][7][3][2] The sense “in keeping with hygiene, good for the health”, recorded by Larousse in 1873, is now dated or technical.^[8][3]

As a euphemism it is used of the evacuation of excrement, in papier hygiénique and seau hygiénique, and of women's intimate hygiene, in tampon hygiénique;^[3][8] Rey suggests that these may have been inspired by the use of toilet in English.^[3][8] The English word hygienic was taken from the French adjective in 1815.^[9]

Timeline

• 1611 – Cotgrave records the noun hygiénique “preventive medicine”.^[2][3]
• 1791 – First record of the adjective according to the Robert.^[6][3]
• 1803 – Boiste takes up the noun again.^[2]
• 1812 – The adjective is in Mozin and Biber's dictionary.^[2]
• 1815 – English borrows it as hygienic.^[9]
• 1873 – Larousse records the sense “good for the health”.^[8]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Relating to hygiene and to health.^[10][2]
2. Relating to bodily cleanliness, especially of the intimate parts: papier hygiénique “toilet paper”, serviette hygiénique, tampon hygiénique.^[7][11][10]
3. Good for the health, healthy, wholesome: une promenade hygiénique.^[7][10]

Related words

• hygiène
• hygiéniquement
• antihygiénique
• hygiéniste
• Ancient Greek ὑγιής (hugiḗs)
• English hygienic

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
11. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)