métamorphique

Forms

métamorphique (plural métamorphiques)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French métamorphisme + -ique.^[2][3][4][5] The noun (1823) is a learned compound of Greek μετά (metá, “change”) and μορφή (morphḗ, “form”), the elements of métamorphose.^[2][5][1] Littré explains the adjective directly from méta- and the Greek word for “form”.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The dictionaries give 1823 for its first use, by Humboldt, as reported by the Larousse of the 19th century; the TLFi adds a dated record of 1834 in A. Boué's survey of the progress of geology in 1833.^[2][7][4] The Grand Robert dates it to 1825 and Bloch and Wartburg to 1847.^[3][5] From the start it was a term of geology, of rocks changed in their structure.^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

In the 19th century couches métamorphiques and roches métamorphiques were rocks thought to owe their crystalline character to an alteration by heat after they had been laid down, as Littré explains.^[6] The word keeps this geological sense, of rocks transformed by heat and pressure, such as gneiss and mica schist.^[7][4] The TLFi also records a figurative use, of a deep change in other things.^[2]

Timeline

• 1823 – Humboldt uses the word, according to the Larousse of the 19th century.^[2][7]
• 1834 – A. Boué uses it in the Bulletin de la Société géologique de France.^[2]
• 1847 – Date given by Bloch and Wartburg.^[5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (geology) Of a rock: deeply changed in its structure by métamorphisme, the action of heat and pressure: roche métamorphique.^[2][4][8][9]
2. (geology) Relating to or producing metamorphism.^[7][9]
3. (figurative) Marked by a deep transformation.^[2]

Related words

• métamorphisme
• métamorphose
• Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ)

References

1. ^ a b 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
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 c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
9. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)