moléculaire

Forms

moléculaire (plural moléculaires)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French molécule + -aire.^[2][3][1][4] The noun (1678) is a learned derivative of mōlēs (“mass”), on the model of words such as corpuscule.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1797 in Bertrand's Nouveaux principes de géologie, meaning “relating to molecules”.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

The adjective followed the history of molécule as atomic theory developed.^[6] It became common in chemistry in the second half of the 19th century, in phrases such as masse moléculaire and poids moléculaire, and spread in the 20th century to biology, as in biologie moléculaire (about 1950) and génétique moléculaire.^[6][7] Littré lists attraction moléculaire and forces moléculaires, the forces between molecules.^[8]

Baudelaire used it figuratively, in the mid-19th century, for what is fragmentary, built up like molecules.^[4] English molecular (by 1815) may come from the French word or from Modern Latin molecularis.^[9]

Timeline

• 1678 – Molécule is recorded.^[5]
• 1797 – Moléculaire appears in Bertrand's work on geology.^[2][4]
• Mid-19th century – Baudelaire's figurative use.^[4]
• c. 1950 – Biologie moléculaire is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (chemistry, physics) Relating to or belonging to molecules, molecular: masse moléculaire, structure moléculaire.^[7][2][8]
2. (biology) Studying living things at the level of their molecules: biologie moléculaire, génétique moléculaire.^[7][6]
3. (figurative) fragmentary, made up of small separate parts.^[4]

Related words

• molécule
• molécularité
• Latin mōlēs
• English molecular

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com