optique

Forms

optique (plural optiques)^[1]

Etymology

The adjective is borrowed from Ancient Greek ὀπτικός (optikós, “concerning sight”), first as obtique in 1314, of the optic nerves.^[2][3][4][5] The Greek word belongs to the verbal stem ὀπ- (op-) of the forms of ὁράω (horáō, “to see”), which Rey connects with the Indo-European root Proto-Indo-European *okʷ- (“eye, to see”).^[3] The Grand Robert and the GLLF derive it from ὀπτός (optós, “visible”).^[4][6] Wiktionary gives Latin opticus as the direct source.^[1]

The noun “optics” (1605), which the Grand Robert treats as a separate headword, is borrowed from Latin optice, from Greek ὀπτική (optikḗ) (with τέχνη (tékhnē) understood) “the art of seeing, the science of vision”.^[4][3][7] It is the same word as the adjective, used as a noun after the Greek and Latin model.^[3]

Cognate with Italian ottico, Spanish óptico and Old Occitan optic.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Henri de Mondeville's Chirurgie (1314), as nerfs obtiques, the optic nerves.^[2][8]

Semantic evolution

Used first in anatomy for what relates to the eye, the adjective then meant “relating to vision”, as in verres optiques (1749) and angle, cône, pinceau optique (1868).^[3][2] From the mid-16th century it was also applied to the phenomena of light, especially in illusion optique (Académie, 1798).^[3][2][6]

The noun (1605) names the science of the propagation of light (optique géométrique, 1886), and by metonymy a treatise on optics (1721), the optical parts of an instrument, and in the 20th century the industry making them.^[3][7][9] In the 18th and 19th centuries une optique was a box in which coloured prints were viewed through a magnifying lens.^[3] The figurative sense “point of view” is now common.^[10][1]

Timeline

• 1314 – Nerfs obtiques in Henri de Mondeville's Chirurgie.^[2]
• 1567 – Delorme uses the adjective of the phenomena of vision.^[2]
• 1605 – The noun “optics” is recorded.^[7][4]
• 1721 – Une optique, a treatise on optics.^[3][9]
• 1749 – Verres optiques.^[2]
• 1798 – Illusion optique in the Académie's dictionary.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Relating to the eye or to vision: le nerf optique.^[10][2]
2. Relating to optics and light: verres optiques, fibre optique.^[10]
3. Using optical and electronic technology: lecture optique.^[10]

Noun

1. Optics, the science of light and vision.^[10][3]
2. The optical parts of an instrument, its lenses.^[10]
3. (figurative) A perspective, a point of view.^[10][1]

Word family

• opticien
• optiquement

Related words

• Ancient Greek ὀπτικός (optikós)

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 7, 379a
6. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
10. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert