microscope

Forms

microscope m (plural microscopes)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from New Latin microscopium, a learned compound made in 1618 on the model of télescope.^[2][3] Its elements are Greek μικρός (mikrós, “small”) and the σκοπέω (skopéō, “to look at, examine”) that also gives -scope.^[2][4] The TLFi and the GLLF instead treat it as a French compound of micro- and the same final element, on the model of the telescope's name.^[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1656 in a letter of Monconys to Regnault, for an optical instrument with lenses that shows objects invisible to the naked eye.^[5][2]

Semantic evolution

The Latin name of the instrument spread quickly into the modern languages, English and French first.^[2] From 1678, in La Fontaine, voir tout avec un microscope meant “to exaggerate”, and in 1785 d'Alembert used observer au microscope for looking at something with the greatest care.^[5][2] Later inventions gave microscope solaire (1756) and microscope électronique (1935).^[2][5]

English microscope is recorded from the 1650s, also from the Modern Latin word.^[7]

Timeline

• 1618 – Modern Latin microscopium is coined.^[2][3]
• 1656 – First French record, in a letter of Monconys.^[5][2]
• 1678 – La Fontaine's voir tout avec un microscope “to exaggerate”.^[5][2]
• c. 1700 – The derivative microscopique appears.^[2]
• 1756 – Microscope solaire.^[2]
• 1785 – D'Alembert writes observer au microscope “to examine minutely”.^[5]
• 1935 – Microscope électronique is recorded.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. An optical instrument whose system of lenses makes visible objects too small for the naked eye, a microscope.^[8][5][4]
2. Microscope électronique: an electron microscope, in which a beam of electrons replaces light.^[9][6]
3. (figurative) Au microscope: in the smallest detail, with the greatest care.^[5][9]

Word family

• microscopique
• microscopiste
• microscopie
• ultramicroscope

Related words

• télescope
• macroscopique
• New Latin microscopium
• English microscope

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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
6. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)