pathologique

Forms

pathologique (plural pathologiques)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek παθολογικός (pathologikós, “treating of passions or diseases”).^[2][3][1][4] The Greek adjective comes from παθολογέω (pathologéō, “to treat of affections or diseases”), formed from πάθος (páthos, “suffering”) and λόγος (lógos, “discourse”).^[5] The Grand Robert takes it as a French derivative of pathologie (1550).^[6][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1552 in Guillaume Paradin's French version of Fuchs's Méthode, meaning “relating to pathology”.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

For two centuries the word belonged to medicine, meaning “relating to the study of diseases”.^[5][2] From the 18th century (Voltaire) it also meant “relating to or caused by disease”, of a state, a sign or a symptom.^[5][3] Anatomie pathologique, the study of the lesions that diseases cause, is recorded by Larousse in 1875.^[5] Proust, before 1922, used it more loosely for behaviour that is abnormal, and in familiar French un cas pathologique is a person considered abnormal and unlikely to change.^[5][3]

Timeline

• 1552 – Guillaume Paradin uses it in a translation of Fuchs.^[2][6]
• 1617 – The adverb pathologiquement appears in d'Aubigné.^[2]
• Before 1778 – Voltaire uses it of what is due to disease.^[5]
• 1875 – Larousse records anatomie pathologique.^[5]
• Before 1922 – Proust extends it to abnormal behaviour.^[5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Relating to pathology, the study of diseases: anatomie pathologique.^[3][2][5]
2. Relating to or caused by disease; departing from the normal state of an organ or function: antécédents pathologiques.^[3][5]
3. (familiar) Pathological, abnormal, compulsive: une jalousie pathologique;^[3][5] un cas pathologique, a person thought hopelessly abnormal.^[3][5]

Word family

• pathologiquement

Related words

• pathologie
• Ancient Greek παθολογικός (pathologikós)

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 c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert