phosphore

Forms

phosphore m (plural phosphores)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek φωσφόρος (phōsphóros, “bringing light”), adapted in French in 1677.^[2][3][4] The Greek adjective is used by Plato of the eyes;^[2] it was applied to deities and, as a noun, to the morning star that announces the day.^[4][5] It is formed from φῶς (phôs, “light”) and -φόρος (-phóros, “bearing”), from φέρω (phérō, “to carry”).^[2][1]

The scientific Latin phosphorus is recorded from 1675 in an alchemical treatise by Bauduin.^[2][4] Wiktionary and Littré derive the French word from this Latin form.^[1][5] The element had been discovered in 1669 by the German alchemist Henning Brand, who was trying to extract the philosophers' stone from urine.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in the Journal des savants of 2 August 1677, already in the modern sense of the element.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

From its first records the word named both the element and various artificial substances that glow in the dark (1677), each called phosphore de with a proper name, such as phosphore de Bologne or phosphore de Kunkel.^[4][2] The element is today extracted from animal bones, a method used since the 18th century, and has been made industrially since 1838.^[4]

From 1812 the word is sometimes used metaphorically of things that shine, bringing back its original sense:^[4][6] a lasting glow, a brief bright flash, and in figurative use something that seems to light up the mind.^[6] It has produced many derivatives, the oldest being phosphorique (1753); phosphate (1782) was formed on its stem.^[4][3]

Timeline

• 1675 – The scientific Latin phosphorus is recorded.^[2][4]
• 1677 – Phosphore appears in the Journal des savants.^[2]
• 1753 – The derivative phosphorique is recorded.^[4][3]
• 1782 – Phosphate is formed on the stem of phosphorique.^[4][3]
• 1812 – Delille uses it metaphorically for something that shines.^[6][4]
• 1838 – Industrial production of phosphorus begins.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (obsolete) Any substance that becomes luminous in the dark, as in phosphore de Bologne.^[7][2][6]
2. (chemistry) phosphorus, the chemical element of atomic number 15 (symbol P), found in several forms such as white phosphorus and red phosphorus.^[7][6][1]
3. (dated, figurative) A diffuse glow, or a brief and intense flash of light.^[6]
4. (obsolete, figurative) Something that seems to light up the mind or quicken the imagination.^[6]

Word family

• phosphorescence
• phosphorescent
• phosphoreux
• phosphorique
• phosphate
• phosphure
• phosphorisme

Related words

• Ancient Greek φωσφόρος (phōsphóros)

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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert