iridescent

Forms

iridescent (feminine iridescente, masculine plural iridescents, feminine plural iridescentes)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin iris (“rainbow”), stem ⟨irid-⟩, with the suffix -escent, a learned formation.^[2][3][1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1842 in the dictionary of Mozin and Biber, for what shines with rainbow-like reflections.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Littré defines it as what reflects the colours of the rainbow.^[5] It has stayed a literary word;^[4][3][6] Claudel, for instance, uses it in 1906 of a flayed ox, rose et bleu, iridescent et nacré.^[2][3] The noun iridescence followed in 1924.^[6]

Timeline

• 1842 – First recorded in the Mozin–Biber dictionary.^[2][3][7]
• 1906 – Claudel uses it in Partage de midi.^[2]
• 1924 – The derivative iridescence appears.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (literary) Having shimmering, rainbow-like reflections, irisé.^[4][2]

Related words

• iris
• irisé
• irisation

References

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