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philanthropique

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Etymology and origin of the French word philanthropique

Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1780 More words from the 18th century
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek φιλανθρωπία
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Ancient Greek φίλος (phílos)
Ancient Greek φιλάνθρωπος (philánthrōpos)
Ancient Greek φιλανθρωπία (philanthrōpíā)
Latin philanthrōpia
English philanthropy
French philanthropique
English philanthropic
From the same root
Ancient Greek φιλέω (philéō) ← φίλος
Ancient Greek φιλόσοφος (philósophos) ← φίλος
English philanthropist ← philanthrōpia

Forms

philanthropique (plural philanthropiques)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French philanthropie + -ique,[2][3] though the DHLF allows that it may be a borrowing of the Greek adjective,[4] which the Grand Robert, the Petit Robert and Bloch and Wartburg give as its source.[5][6][7] The base noun is from Ancient Greek φιλανθρωπία (philanthrōpía, “love of mankind”),[2][1][8] borrowed into French in 1551.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1780, in the name société philanthropique.[2][4][3]

Semantic evolution

It qualified what relates to philanthropy or is inspired by it, especially in société philanthropique; associations and works meant to help the poor came to be called philanthropiques.[4][2][3] It can also mean simply “disinterested”, and the older sense “showing love of one's fellow men” is now dated.[2] Littré notes an ironic use.[8] The adverb philanthropiquement is recorded in 1840, in Proudhon.[4]

The DHLF observes that philanthrope and its derivatives stood for an essential social notion in the 19th century, which then gave ground to ideas of social justice and solidarity.[4] English philanthropic (1785) comes from the French word.[9]

Timeline

  • 1780 – First recorded, in société philanthropique.[2][3]
  • 1785 – English philanthropic is borrowed from it.[9]
  • 1835 – The Académie includes it in its dictionary.[2]
  • 1840 – Proudhon uses the adverb philanthropiquement.[4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Relating to philanthropy or inspired by it: une association philanthropique, a charitable body.[2][3][10]
  2. Disinterested.[2]
  3. (dated) Showing love of one's fellow men, humane.[2][6]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Philanthropique.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/philanthropique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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