implanter

Forms

implanter^[1]

Etymology

It is probably borrowed from Medieval Latin implantō (“to plant in”), since the word first appears in French in a translation of Galen, rather than an adaptation of Italian impiantare.^[2][3][4] Bloch and Wartburg take the opposite view: they derive it from the Italian verb “to place”, which like the French word is used mostly as a reflexive, and consider the Late Latin verb too rare to have been the model.^[5] Le Grand Robert and the Petit Robert also give the Italian verb, itself from Late Latin.^[6][7]

The Latin verb is formed with in- (“in, into”) and plantō (“to plant”), the source of planter.^[4][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1539 as a reflexive term of anatomy, s'implanter “to be fixed on, adhere to”, in J. Canappe's translation of Galen's method of therapeutics.^[2][4] Littré quotes Paré in the same sense: muscles that “s'implantent sur l'os du bras” (attach to the bone of the arm).^[9]

Semantic evolution

The transitive verb “to fix, insert into” is first found in Cotgrave's dictionary (1611), which glosses it “to implant, to fix, or set into”; in this literal sense it has become rare.^{[2][10][4][7]} Its everyday sense is to introduce something into a new setting and make it develop there lastingly, as an industry in a region or a custom in a society;^[4][8][7] GLLF dates this from Balzac (1837).^[4][8][7]

In medicine it meant from 1719 to introduce a substance into an organ to change its character; since the mid-20th century it has meant to implant a therapeutic element such as a prosthesis or an organ.^[2][4] The reflexive s'implanter chez quelqu'un “to dig oneself in at someone's house” (1864) is familiar, and s'implanter is also said of an idea or a fashion that takes firm hold (1873).^[4]

Timeline

• 1539 – First record, reflexive, as a term of anatomy.^[2][4]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records the transitive verb “to fix, set into”.^[2][10]
• 1719 – The Journal des Savants uses it in medicine.^[2]
• 1837 – Balzac uses it of settling someone or something lastingly in a place.^[8]
• 1864 – Familiar s'implanter chez quelqu'un is recorded.^[4]
• 1873 – S'implanter is said of an idea or a fashion taking hold.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. (rare) To plant, fix or insert one thing in another.^[7][11]
2. To introduce something into a new setting and make it established there lastingly, as an industry or a custom.^[7][12]
3. (medicine) To implant an organ, a prosthesis or an embryo in the body.^[7][12]
4. To introduce a hormonal implant into a meat animal.^[7]
5. (reflexive) To become established, to take root;^[4][8] (familiar) to settle in at someone's house uninvited.^[4][8]

Word family

• implantation

Related words

• implant
• implantable
• implantologie
• planter
• Latin plantō
• Italian impiantare

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 9, 25a
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
10. ^ a b Cotgrave, Randle (1611), A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues, London: Adam Islip
11. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
12. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)