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molécule

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Etymology and origin of the French word molécule

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1674 Le Gallois, Conversations académiques More words from the 17th century
Borrowed from
Latin molecula
Ultimate origin
Latin mōlēs
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin mōlēs
Latin mōlēcula
French molécule
English molecule
Derivations
From the same root
English molar ← mōlēs
Latin mōlior ← mōlēs
English molecular ← molecule

Pronunciation

  • /mɔ.le.kyl/[1]

Forms

molécule f (plural molécules)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from New Latin mōlēcula, a form found in Gassendi (1592–1655), a diminutive of Latin mōlēs (“mass”).[2][3][1] The TLFi and Bloch and Wartburg describe it rather as a learned derivative of the Latin noun formed on the model of corpuscule.[4][5][6] Littré calls the Latin diminutive a made-up form.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1674, in Le Gallois's Conversations académiques, for a very small part of a body.[4][2] Bloch and Wartburg and the GLLF date it from 1678, in Bernier.[5][6]

Semantic evolution

The first sense, a tiny mass or minute part of a body, was vague; in 1803 Boiste records it for a small organic particle supposed to be alive.[4][2] The word received a precise definition in chemistry at the beginning of the 19th century, after Avogadro and Ampère formulated the hypothesis of a limit to the divisibility of matter, and its concept changed as atomic theory developed.[2]

The adjective moléculaire followed in 1797, and became usual in chemistry in the second half of the 19th century.[2][5] English took the word as molecule in 1794.[8]

Timeline

  • 1674 – First recorded, in Le Gallois's Conversations académiques, for a very small part of a body.[4][2]
  • 1678 – Bernier uses it.[5][6]
  • 1794 – English borrows it as molecule.[8]
  • 1797 – The adjective moléculaire is first recorded.[2][5]
  • 1803 – Boiste records the sense “small organic particle supposed to be alive”.[4]
  • Early 19th century – The word receives its precise chemical sense.[2][9]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (dated) A tiny particle of matter, a corpuscule.[9][4][10]
  2. (chemistry) A molecule: the smallest amount of a pure substance, made of atoms, that can exist free and keep the substance's properties: une molécule d'azote.[9][6][11]
  3. A very small amount of something.[1]

Word family

References

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

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Molécule.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/mol%C3%A9cule. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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