ignition

Forms

ignition f (plural ignitions)^[1]

Etymology

The TLFi analyses it as a compound from French igni- + -tion.^[2] The Grand Robert and the GLLF instead derive it from Late Latin ignītum, the supine of igniō (“to set on fire, burn”), from Latin ignis (“fire”),^[3][4] and the Petit Robert and Wiktionary from Latin ignītiō.^[5][1] Littré compares Old Occitan ignicio.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record, in a translation of Ovid's Remedia amoris of 1370–1380, has the sense “burn”; this use is isolated.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The word reappears in the 16th century, in Vigenère, meaning “combustion”.^[2][4] Cotgrave (1611) records it in chemistry and metallurgy for the state of a metal heated red-hot without melting, a sense Littré still gives.^[2][4][6]

The Encyclopédie (1765) uses it in physics for the state of a body burning; this is the modern sense, used mainly in the phrase en ignition.^[2][4]

Timeline

• 1370–1380 – First recorded as “burn” in a translation of Ovid.^[2]
• 16th century – Vigenère uses it for “combustion”.^[2][4]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records the sense “metal heated red-hot without melting”.^[2][6]
• 1765 – The Encyclopédie uses it for a body in combustion.^[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (chemistry, physics) The state of a body in vivid combustion, mostly in en ignition: des bûches en ignition “logs burning brightly”.^[2][5][4]
2. (metallurgy) The state of a metal heated to red heat without melting.^[2][6]

Related words

• igné
• Latin ignis

Usage notes

The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert give two pronunciations, /iɲisjɔ̃/ and /iɡnisjɔ̃/.^[3][5]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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 e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette