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paramètre

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Etymology and origin of the French word paramètre

Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1636 Mersenne, Harmonie universelle More words from the 17th century
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek παρά,μέτρον

Pronunciation

  • /pa.ʁa.mɛtʁ/[1]

Forms

paramètre m (plural paramètres)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French para- + -mètre, from παρά (pará, “beside”) and μέτρον (métron, “measure”).[2][3][4][1][5] Rey notes that New Latin parameter is found in 1631 in the mathematician Claude Mydorge, which may point to a passage through scientific Latin.[3] English parameter (1650s) is likewise from Modern Latin.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi dates it to 1636, in Mersenne's Harmonie universelle, for a number that appears as a variable in an expression or equation.[2][3] The GLLF dates the word to 1700, the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert to 1732 (Trévoux), for the latus rectum of the parabola.[7][4][8]

Semantic evolution

In geometry it was soon also a constant line in the equation of a family of curves or surfaces, as in Desargues (1639).[3][9] Because the notion wavers between a variable and a constant, it came to mean a basic variable element in a whole: in statistics (before 1781, Turgot), then in economics, music and computing.[3][2] By extension, from 1974 (Le Monde), it is an important element that must be known to understand a question.[2][3]

Timeline

  • 1636 – Mersenne uses it in algebra.[2][3]
  • 1639 – Desargues uses it of a constant line in geometry.[3]
  • 1732 – The Trévoux dictionary records it for the parabola.[4][8]
  • before 1781 – Turgot uses it in statistics.[2][7]
  • 1832 – The derivative paramétrique is recorded.[2]
  • 1974 – The figurative sense “key factor” appears in Le Monde.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (mathematics) A parameter, a quantity kept constant in a given case, on which a function or equation depends, le paramètre d'une parabole.[2][8][7]
  2. (statistics) A measurable quantity that sums up a set of data, such as the mean or the variance.[2][8][7]
  3. (figurative) A key factor that must be known to understand a question, un paramètre essentiel du problème.[2][8][1]

Word family

  • paramétrique

Usage notes

A separate anatomical paramètre (1932, Larousse), the connective tissue beside the cervix of the uterus, is formed from para- and Greek mḗtra “womb”.[2][7]

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 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. ^ a b c 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. 6/2, 63a
  6. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
Cite this entry

“Paramètre.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/param%C3%A8tre. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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