inductif

Forms

inductif (feminine inductive, masculine plural inductifs, feminine plural inductives)^[1]

Etymology

In its logical sense (1648) it is borrowed from Late Latin inductīvus (“proceeding by induction, hypothetical”).^[2][3][4] The older sense “leading to, urging on” (second half of the 14th century) came from a learned derivative of Latin inductum, the supine of indūcō (“to lead in, induce”), with the suffix -if;^[2][4] the Late Latin adjective has the same origin.^[2][3] The electrical sense (1832) is a calque of English inductive, used that year by Faraday.^[4]

Cognate with Old Occitan inductiu, Spanish inductivo and Italian induttivo.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Philippe de Mézières, in the Songe du Vieil Pelerin (second half of the 14th century), uses it in the sense “leading to, urging on”.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

The sense “urging towards” lasted into the 16th century:^[2] a 15th-century text calls women inductives à mal, “inclined to lead to evil”, and Du Bellay speaks of causes finales et inductives.^[5] Littré still lists inductif à mal but calls it little used.^[5]

The logical sense “proceeding by induction” is recorded in a letter of 1648 and again in Cousin in 1829;^[2] it is opposed to déductif.^[2][6] In physics it was used from 1832 of what relates to electrical induction, after English usage.^[2][4][6]

Timeline

• Second half of the 14th century – Philippe de Mézières uses it for “leading to, urging on”.^[2][4]
• 1648 – The logical sense appears in a letter of Gaspar Vincq.^[2][7]
• 1829 – Cousin uses the logical sense again.^[2]
• 1832 – The electrical sense appears in the Annales de chimie.^[2][7][4]
• 1931 – Larousse records circuit inductif.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (logic) That proceeds by induction or results from it.^[6][2]
2. (physics) Relating to or caused by electrical induction.^[6][2]
3. (rare) Leading or urging towards something.^[5]

Related words

• induire
• induction
• déductif
• Latin indūcō

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse