lignite

Forms

lignite m (plural lignites)^[2][3]

Etymology

It is a learned formation from Latin lignum (“wood”), with the mineralogical suffix -ite.^[4][5][6][7] It belongs to the family of ligneux “woody”.^[4][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1765, in the Encyclopédie.^[4][6][8]

Semantic evolution

Its meaning soon became narrower than “fossil wood”: it named a type of fuel, a coal.^[8] Littré still distinguishes the woody lignite, in which the structure of the wood is visible, from compact lignite, in which it has disappeared.^[5] English lignite is recorded from 1808;^[9] Etymonline derives it from French, but probably directly from the name Lithanthrax lignius given to woody coal by the Swedish chemist Wallerius in 1775.^[9]

Timeline

• 1765 – First recorded in the Encyclopédie.^[4]
• 1808 – English lignite is recorded.^[9]
• 1953 – The derivative ligniteux is first recorded in a Larousse supplement.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A brown or black fossil coal rich in plant remains, between tourbe and houille, with low heating value; lignite, brown coal.^[4][3][6]

Word family

• ligniteux

Related words

• ligneux
• lignine
• Latin lignum
• English lignite

Usage notes

The word is masculine (du lignite), although it is often taken for a feminine, like the mineral names in -ite such as bauxite.^[6][3] Rey's dictionary records it as feminine.^[8]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
4. ^ 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
5. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com