ménopause

Forms

ménopause f (plural ménopauses)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French méno- + -pause,^[2][3][4][1] from Ancient Greek μηνιαῖα (mēniaîa, “menses”), a derivative of μήν (mḗn, “month”), and παῦσις (paûsis, “stopping, end”), from παύω (paúō, “to make cease, to cease”).^[2][5][6] Rey describes it as borrowed from New Latin menopausis, a medical Latin formation on the same Greek words, and notes that the Greek word for month corresponds to Latin mēnsis, the source of mois.^[7] Wiktionary says it was coined in 1821 by the French physician Charles de Gardanne.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi first finds it in Boiste's dictionary in 1823,^[2][3] meaning the cessation of the menses.^[7][6]

Semantic evolution

Strictly the word means the end of menstruation or of the menstrual cycles; by metonymy it also names the period of life when this happens, usually from about fifty.^[7][2] Its derivatives are ménopausique (1922) and ménopausée (1952).^[7][2]

Timeline

• 1821 – Charles de Gardanne coins the word.^[1]
• 1823 – Boiste records it.^[2][5]
• 1922 – The adjective ménopausique appears.^[7][4]
• 1952 – Ménopausée is first recorded.^[2][7]

Meanings

Noun

1. Menopause, the permanent end of ovarian activity and of menstruation in a woman.^[4][2][3]
2. The period of life when this happens, usually around fifty; also called âge critique or retour d'âge.^[2][4]

Word family

• ménopausique
• ménopausée

Related words

• pause
• andropause
• mois
• Ancient Greek μήν (mḗn)

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert