nitrique

Forms

nitrique (plural nitriques)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French nitre + -ique.^[2][3][4] Nitre “saltpetre” is from Latin nitrum (“natron, alkali”), itself taken from Ancient Greek νίτρον (nítron), which named soda and was probably of Egyptian origin.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1787 in the phrase acide nitrique, in Guyton de Morveau's Méthode d'une nomenclature chimique.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The word was one of a set of derivatives of nitre coined for the new chemical nomenclature of 1787, beside nitrate and nitrite.^[6][3] In the 19th century and the early 20th, chemists replaced it with azotique, formed on azote, but it came back into use in the 20th century.^[4][6] It was later applied to bacteria able to carry out nitrification (1963) and, figuratively, to something as biting as an acid.^[5][2]

English nitric is recorded from 1794 and may have been taken directly from the French word.^[7]

Timeline

• 1787 – Acide nitrique appears in Guyton de Morveau's chemical nomenclature.^[2][5]
• 1789 – Lavoisier discusses the name radical nitrique in his Traité de chimie.^[2]
• 1794 – English nitric is first recorded.^[7]
• 1963 – Larousse records the sense said of nitrifying bacteria.^[5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (chemistry) Containing nitrogen in the higher oxidation state, as in acide nitrique “nitric acid”, the corrosive liquid also called eau-forte.^[8][2][5]
2. (biology) Said of bacteria able to carry out nitrification: une bactérie nitrique.^[8][5]
3. (figurative, literary) Biting, as sharp as an acid.^[5]

Related words

• nitre
• nitrate
• nitreux
• azotique
• Latin nitrum
• English nitric

References

1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert