lipide

Forms

lipide m (plural lipides)^[1]

Etymology

It is from French lipo- + -ide, a learned formation coined in 1923 by G. Bertrand.^[2][3][1] Its first element is from Ancient Greek λίπος (lípos, “animal fat, oil”), and the second is the chemical suffix -ide.^[2][3][1][4] Rey derives the Greek noun from an adverb meaning “richly, so as to be well greased”, and notes that it has been compared with words for smearing and for being sticky in Sanskrit, Lithuanian and Old Church Slavonic.^[4] Earlier members of the same series are lipome (1721), from Medieval Latin lipoma, and lipidase (1896).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1923 in the Bulletin de la Société de chimie biologique, as the general name for the fatty substances of living matter.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

The word is a term of biochemistry and of dietetics, used mostly in the plural.^[4][2] Larousse recorded it in 1931 in the chemical sense, and the Robert recorded the sense “fatty food” in 1959.^[5] The adjective lipidique followed in 1937.^[4]

English lipid (1925) was taken from the French word.^[6]

Timeline

• 1923 – G. Bertrand coins lipide.^[2][3]
• 1925 – English lipid is recorded, from the French word.^[6]
• 1931 – Larousse records it in the chemical sense.^[5]
• 1937 – The adjective lipidique appears.^[4]
• 1959 – The Robert records the sense “fat-rich food”.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (biochemistry) A lipid: a fatty substance of organic origin containing a fatty acid or one of its derivatives, insoluble in water: lipides simples, lipides complexes.^[2][7][8]
2. A food rich in fat; also the fat content of the diet: lipides alimentaires.^[2][5][7]

Word family

• lipidique

Related words

• lipome
• lipoïde
• glycolipide
• phospholipide
• English lipid

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)