orgasme

Forms

orgasme m (plural orgasmes)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ὀργασμός (orgasmós), a word found only late, in the scholia to Hippocrates.^[2][3][1] The Greek noun is derived from ὀργάω (orgáō, “to swell with sap, to be full of ardour or desire”), itself formed on ὀργή (orgḗ, “natural impulse, temperament, passion, anger”).^[2][3][4] Rey notes that the Greek noun has long been compared with a Sanskrit word for food and vigour, but that the imperfect match of forms has drawn well-founded objections.^[3]

Littré points out that the Greek word itself is recorded only in the sense “kneading, moistening”, from ὀργάζω (orgázō, “to knead”), and that the French sense goes with the verb meaning “to swell with sap” instead.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cotgrave's dictionary of 1611 records it in the sense “a fit of violent anger”.^[2][3][6]

Semantic evolution

From 1623 it meant the highest degree of a physiological excitement, as in Jacques Ferrand's treatise on lovesickness.^[2][3][6] In the 18th and 19th centuries it named a state of tension or swelling in a tissue or organ, a use found in Lamarck, and figuratively an outburst of feeling with bodily signs, a kind of hysterical frenzy.^[2][3] The Robert dictionaries record the old medical senses “irritation, hysteria”, as well as “erection” from the late 18th century.^[7][8]

The modern sense, the peak of sexual excitement, is first recorded in 1777 in Sabatier's treatise on anatomy;^[2][9][3] the Robert dictionaries date it to 1837.^[7][8]

Timeline

• 1611 – Cotgrave records it in the sense “fit of anger”.^[2][6]
• 1623 – Jacques Ferrand uses it for the highest degree of a physiological excitement.^[2][6]
• 1721 – The Dictionnaire de Trévoux records it.^[6]
• 1777 – Sabatier uses it for the peak of sexual excitement.^[2][9]
• 1809 – Lamarck uses it for a state of tension in living tissue.^[2]
• 1873 – The derivative orgastique is recorded.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. The climax of sexual pleasure, an orgasm: atteindre l'orgasme, avoir un orgasme.^[8][10][11]
2. (obsolete, medicine) A state of tension, excitement or turgescence of a tissue or organ.^[2][5]
3. (obsolete, figurative) An outburst of feeling, a transport of the soul.^[2][5]
4. (obsolete) A violent fit of anger.^[2][3]

Word family

• orgastique
• orgasmique
• anorgasmie

Related words

• Ancient Greek ὀργή (orgḗ)

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
11. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)