nitrate

Forms

nitrate m (plural nitrates)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French nitre + -ate, a term of Guyton de Morveau's chemical nomenclature of 1787.^[2][3][4][5] The base, recorded from the 13th century, is a learned word, from Latin nitrum, from Ancient Greek νίτρον (nítron, “mineral or vegetable alkali”).^[3][6] Wiktionnaire compares Latin nitrātus (“containing nitre”).^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Guyton de Morveau used it in 1787 for a salt of nitric acid, together with nitrique and nitrite, coined the same year.^[2][8]

Semantic evolution

The word became common through the use of nitrates as farm fertilizers.^[8] In the 19th century it competed with terms derived from azote (nitrogen), such as azotate.^[8][9] Particular salts were named early: nitrate d'argent (silver nitrate) is found in Victor Hugo in 1862, and the nitrates of sodium and other bases were recorded as chemical fertilizers by Larousse in 1888.^[5] Littré called silver nitrate the main agent of photography, used to sensitize the collodion layer.^[10]

The noun gave the adjective nitraté (1797), which matches English nitrated (from 1694), then nitratation (1840) and the verb nitrater (1878).^[8][2]

Timeline

• 1787 – Guyton de Morveau introduces nitrate in his chemical nomenclature.^[2][5]
• 1797 – The adjective nitraté appears.^[8][2]
• 1840 – First record of nitratation.^[8][2]
• 1862 – Nitrate d'argent is found in Victor Hugo.^[5]
• 1878 – The verb nitrater is recorded.^[8]
• 1888 – Larousse records nitrates as chemical fertilizers.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (chemistry) A salt or ester of nitric acid.^[2][9][5]
2. Such a salt used as a fertilizer: nitrate de sodium, nitrate de potassium, nitrate d'ammonium.^[9][5]
3. Nitrate d'argent, or simply nitrate: silver nitrate, used in medicine as a caustic and antiseptic.^[5][9]

Word family

• nitrater
• nitratation
• ammonitrate

Related words

• nitre
• nitrique
• nitrite
• azotate
• Latin nitrum

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 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. ^ a b c d e f g h Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
7. ^ Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
8. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette