nitrater

Forms

nitrater^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French nitrate + -er.^[2][3][4][1] The noun was formed in 1787 by Guyton de Morveau from the older word for saltpetre and the suffix -ate.^[2] Nitre, first recorded at the end of the 12th century, is from Latin nitrum (“natron, soda”), itself from Ancient Greek νίτρον (nítron).^[2][1] The TLFi compares the English verb nitrate, recorded from 1872.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It was first recorded in 1878, in the supplement to the Larousse of the 19th century, meaning “to colour hides brown with silver nitrate”.^[2][4] The past participle nitraté was already used in 1797, matching the English adjective nitrated of 1694.^[5][6]

Semantic evolution

From treating hides with silver nitrate the verb passed into general chemistry: “to convert into a nitrate”, recorded in 1959 by the Robert, and “to add a nitrate to”, recorded in 1963 by the Larousse, as with an explosive or with soil to make it fertile.^[4] It belongs to the large family of nitre, beside nitratation (1840).^[6]

Timeline

• 1797 – The past participle nitraté is recorded.^[5][6]
• 1840 – The noun nitratation is recorded.^[6]
• 1878 – The supplement to the Larousse of the 19th century records the verb.^[2][4]
• 1959 – The Robert records the sense “to convert into a nitrate”.^[4]
• 1963 – The Larousse records the sense “to add a nitrate to”.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. (chemistry) To add a nitrate to, as to a mixture, an explosive or a fertilizer.^[5][7][4]
2. (chemistry) To convert into a nitrate.^[5][8][4]
3. To treat with silver nitrate, especially hides, to colour them.^[2][5][7]

Related words

• nitrate
• nitre
• nitratation
• Latin nitrum

References

1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ 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
5. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
8. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)