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luminosité

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Etymology and origin of the French word luminosité

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 1200 Règle de saint Benoît More words from the 12th century
Ultimate origin
Latin lūminōsus

Pronunciation

  • /ly.mi.no.zi.te/[1]

Forms

luminosité f (plural luminosités)[1]

Etymology

It is a learned formation from French lumineux + -ité, built on the stem of Latin lūminōsus (“full of light”).[2][3][4][1] The Petit Robert names a Medieval Latin model, luminositas.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The word first appears in a French version of the Rule of Saint Benedict, which the Grand Robert and the GLLF date to about 1200 and the TLFi cites from an edition printed in 1486.[3][6][2] Littré quotes Alain Chartier's Quadrilogue invectif (15th century), where the mist of a foggy season cannot recover its “diaphanous luminosity”.[7]

Semantic evolution

Rey notes that the noun has kept a purely physical sense, the quality of what is luminous.[4] From 1866 the plural luminosités, used by the Goncourt brothers, denoted reflections and plays of light in literary style.[2][6] In 1936 Roger Martin du Gard used it figuratively for the radiance of a face or a look.[6]

Science gave it the sense of luminous power: coefficient de luminosité is recorded in 1968, and astronomy uses it for the total energy radiated by a star.[6][8]

Timeline

  • c. 1200 – It appears in a French Rule of Saint Benedict.[3][6]
  • 1486 – The edition of the Rule the TLFi cites is printed.[2]
  • 15th century – Alain Chartier uses it in the Quadrilogue invectif.[7]
  • 1866 – The plural luminosités “plays of light” is used by the Goncourts.[2][6]
  • 1936 – Martin du Gard uses it for radiance of the complexion or gaze.[6]
  • 1968 – Coefficient de luminosité is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Brightness, the quality of what is luminous or gives out a bright light: la luminosité du ciel.[5][8][2]
  2. The amount of light a source appears to give, as in photography.[8]
  3. (figurative) Radiance, clarity: la luminosité d'un regard.[6][5]
  4. (astronomy) Luminosity, the total power radiated by a star or other body.[8][5][1]
  5. (literary, plural) Reflections, plays of light.[6][2]

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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Luminosité.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/luminosit%C3%A9. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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