magnétisme

Forms

magnétisme m (plural magnétismes)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French magnétique + -isme.^[2][3][4][1] The adjective is from Late Latin magnēticus (“of the nature of the lodestone”), from magnēs, the stone of Magnesia, a city of Asia Minor.^[3][5] The DHLF notes that the English word magnetism is found from 1616, half a century before the French word.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in 1666 in the Journal des savants, for a kind of hidden influence or sympathy reigning in the world.^[2][7][6]

Semantic evolution

The physical sense, the power of attraction of magnets, is recorded in 1720 in a translation of Newton and in 1724 in Father Castel's treatise on gravity.^[6][8][2][7] The DHLF recalls that the theory of magnetism goes back to William Gilbert around 1600.^[6] Buffon wrote of the Earth's magnetism in 1783;^[7] magnétisme terrestre is in Larousse in 1873.^[7]

Magnétisme animal (1775), the supposed fluid by which one person could act on another, comes from the practice of the German physician Mesmer, much in fashion at the end of the 18th century;^[2][7][3] magnétisme alone is used in this sense in 1784.^[2][7][3] From it came magnétiser (1781) and magnétiseur (1784), and the figurative sense of a powerful, mysterious influence over others, found in Galiani before 1787.^[3][2][7] In the 19th century it also became the name of the branch of physics that studies magnets (before 1842, Stendhal).^[7]

Timeline

• 1666 – The Journal des savants uses it for an occult influence in the world.^[2][7]
• 1720 – A translation of Newton uses it of the attraction of magnets.^[6][8]
• 1724 – Father Castel's treatise uses the physical sense.^[2][7]
• 1775 – Magnétisme animal appears in the Journal de Bruxelles.^[2][7]
• 1781 – The verb magnétiser is recorded.^[3]
• 1783 – Buffon writes of terrestrial magnetism.^[7]
• before 1787 – Galiani uses it for a powerful, mysterious influence.^[2][7]
• before 1842 – Stendhal uses it for the branch of physics.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. (physics) The study of magnets and magnetic fields; the phenomena and properties of magnetized matter: le magnétisme d'une aiguille aimantée.^[8][2][9]
2. Magnétisme terrestre: the Earth's magnetic field.^[8][9]
3. Magnétisme animal, or simply le magnétisme: the supposed fluid some people were thought to emit, and the phenomena such as hypnosis and suggestion attributed to it; mesmerism.^[8][9][3]
4. (figurative) Personal charm, fascination, a strong influence over others: le magnétisme d'un orateur.^[8][9][2]

Word family

• magnétiser
• magnétiseur

Related words

• magnétique
• magnésie
• Latin magnēs

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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 d e f g Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
6. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)