naturaliste

Forms

naturaliste (plural naturalistes)^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned formation from French naturel + -iste.^[2][3][4] The TLFi and Rey build it directly on Latin nātūrālis (“natural”), the Latin source of the same French adjective, with the same suffix.^[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a Renaissance word: F. Dassy uses it in 1527 for a person who studies natural history, and in 1528 as an adjective for a writing on natural history.^[5][6]

Semantic evolution

In 1571 it was used of one who follows nature or instinct.^[5][6] Paré speaks of les naturalistes, epicuriens et atheistes, qui sont sans Dieu, “naturalists, Epicureans and atheists, who are without God”.^[7] In the 17th century the Académie des beaux-arts used it of one who held that nature should be imitated in everything (1675, Testelin).^[6][5] It entered the vocabulary of materialist philosophy with naturalisme in the 18th century (1751).^[6][5]

In the 19th century it named the taxidermist who prepares animals and plants for collections (1845, Bescherelle),^[5][4] and became a term of literary history: Taine used it of naturalism in art in 1858, and Zola from 1866;^[5][6] the naturalist school was founded on 16 April 1877 at a dinner that brought together Zola, Flaubert and Edmond de Goncourt.^[6]

Timeline

• 1527 – F. Dassy uses it for a student of natural history.^[5][2]
• 1528 – First use as an adjective.^[5]
• 1571 – La Porte uses it for one who follows nature.^[5]
• 1675 – Testelin uses the adjective of painting that reproduces nature.^[5][8]
• 1751 – It is applied to materialist philosophers.^[5]
• 1845 – Bescherelle records the sense “taxidermist”.^[5][4]
• 1858 – Taine uses it of naturalism in art.^[5]
• 1877 – The naturalist school of Zola is founded.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. A naturalist, a specialist in the natural sciences, or someone keen on them.^[3][4][5]
2. A taxidermist, who prepares animals and plants for collections.^[3][4]
3. An adherent of naturalisme in philosophy, religion or art.^[4][7]

Adjective

1. (philosophy) Professing or relating to naturalism.^[3]
2. (art, literature) Naturalistic, reproducing nature faithfully, or belonging to the naturalist school.^[3][5][1]

Related words

• naturel
• naturalisme
• nature
• Latin nātūrālis

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, 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 c d e f g h i j k l m n o p 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 c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF