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juxtaposer

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Etymology and origin of the French word juxtaposer

Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1803 Destutt de Tracy, Idéologie More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origins
French juxta-Ancient Greek παῦσαι
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin pausō
French poser
Spanish posar
French juxtaposer
English juxtapose
Italian posare
From the same root
Latin repausō ← pausō
French reposer ← poser
Romanian poză ← poser
Italian posa ← posare
Italian riposare ← posare

Pronunciation

  • /ʒyk.sta.po.ze/[1]

Forms

juxtaposer[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French juxta- + poser on the model of juxtaposition.[2][3][4][1] The GLLF too derives it from the noun, after the verb.[5] The first element is Latin iuxtā (“beside”), the source of jouxte.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Grand Robert finds the past participle in chemistry in 1793, of molecules placed side by side; the TLFi's first record is verbes … juxtaposés in Destutt de Tracy's Idéologie in 1803.[3][2]

Semantic evolution

The reflexive se juxtaposer “to be placed side by side” is found from 1823 according to the Grand Robert, and in Hugo's Notre-Dame de Paris (1832);[3][2] the Académie recorded it in 1835 in the sense of molecules joining a mass already formed.[5][4] The transitive verb “to place one thing beside another” is in the Académie's supplement of 1836.[2][5] Littré marks it as a learned word.[6] The adjective juxtaposable is recorded in 1927.[2]

Timeline

  • 1793 – The past participle is used in chemistry.[3]
  • 1803 – Destutt de Tracy writes of verbes … juxtaposés.[2]
  • 1832 – Hugo uses se juxtaposer in Notre-Dame de Paris.[2]
  • 1835 – The Académie records the reflexive verb.[5][4]
  • 1836 – The Académie's supplement records the transitive verb.[2][5]
  • 1927 – Juxtaposable is recorded.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. (transitive) To place one or more things beside another or others, without joining them: juxtaposer deux couleurs.[2][4][5]
  2. (reflexive) Se juxtaposer: to be placed side by side.[2][6]

Word family

  • juxtaposable

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 d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
Cite this entry

“Juxtaposer.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/juxtaposer. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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