phosphorique

Forms

phosphorique (plural phosphoriques)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French phosphore + -ique.^[2][1][3][4] Bloch and Wartburg list it, dated 1753, among the derivatives of the noun.^[5] The noun phosphore (1677) is an adaptation of Ancient Greek φωσφόρος (phōsphóros, “light-bringing”), formed on φῶς (phôs, “light”) and the suffix -φόρος (-phóros, “bearing”).^[4][5] The FEW treats it in its article on the Greek word.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1753, in Pott, meaning “shining in the manner of phosphorus”.^[2][7][4]

Semantic evolution

The first sense made phosphorique a learned synonym of phosphorescent, used of living things such as glow-worms and fish, and of the sea at night;^[2][4] it is now dated.^[2][7] From 1782, when Guyton de Morveau wrote of acide phosphorique, it became a term of chemistry, its usual sense today.^[2][4][7]

In the 19th century it also described objects containing phosphorus: the GLLF dates allumettes phosphoriques (phosphorus matches) to 1845 in Bescherelle, and Littré describes the briquet phosphorique, a small bottle of phosphorus into which a sulphur match was dipped to light it.^[7][8] The chemical sense gave the verb phosphoriser (1842), perhaps under the influence of English to phosphorize (1837).^[4]

Timeline

• 1753 – First recorded in Pott, of what shines like phosphorus.^[2][7]
• 1782 – Guyton de Morveau uses acide phosphorique.^[2][4]
• 1792 – Used of anything that recalls phosphorus.^[7]
• 1803 – Chateaubriand writes of the sea foam made phosphorique.^[2]
• 1845 – Bescherelle records allumettes phosphoriques.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (chemistry) Of or containing phosphorus, especially in its higher oxidation state: acide phosphorique (phosphoric acid), anhydride phosphorique.^[9][2][1]
2. Containing phosphorus: allumettes phosphoriques.^[9][7]
3. (dated) Shining like phosphorus, phosphorescent: Cette nuit-là, les vagues étaient phosphoriques.^[2][9][7]

Related words

• phosphore
• phosphorescent
• phosphoreux
• phosphate

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 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 8, 399a
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert