lactique

Forms

lactique (plural lactiques)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French lact- + -ique, from the element taken from Latin lac (“milk”).^{[2][3][4][5][6]} It is the earliest of the many scientific words built on this element.^[5]

It is related to lait, lacté and lactose.^[5][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1787 in acide lactique, in the Journal de physique, for the acid formed in fermented milk.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

From 1841 it was also applied to the process that turns sugars into lactic acid, in fermentation lactique.^[2][5] Littré still described lactic acid as the acid of soured whey;^[8] modern dictionaries add its formation in muscle working with little oxygen and the ferments lactiques, the bacteria that sour milk.^[4][2][9]

English lactic (1790, in lactic acid) came from the French word.^[10]

Timeline

• 1787 – Acide lactique is recorded in the Journal de physique.^[2][5]
• 1790 – English borrows it as lactic.^[10]
• 1841 – Boutron-Charlard and Frémy write on the fermentation lactique.^[2]
• 1930 – The Larousse records ferments lactiques.^[9]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (biochemistry) Acide lactique: lactic acid, formed by the fermentation of sugars by micro-organisms and in muscle short of oxygen.^[4][2]
2. Relating to the fermentation of milk sugars: fermentation lactique, ferments lactiques (the bacteria of unsterilised milk that turn lactose into lactic acid).^[2][9][6]

Related words

• lait
• lacté
• lactose
• Latin lac
• English lactic

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
7. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com