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photographique

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Etymology and origin of the French word photographique

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1836 Landais More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
French photo-,-graphie,-ique
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French photographie
Romanian fotografie
French photographique
From the same root
Dutch foto ← photographie
French photo ← photographie

Forms

photographique (plural photographiques)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French photographie + -ique.[2][3][4] Wiktionary analyses it instead as photo- with graphique.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1836, in Landais, in the sense “relating to the study of light”.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The sense “relating to photography” is recorded on 6 May 1839, in the title of a report to the Académie des sciences on the art photographique.[2][5] The session of 4 November 1839 introduced appareil photographique “camera”, which is now rivalled by appareil photo.[2][5] The Académie française admitted the adjective in 1842.[6][7] Figuratively, from before 1872 (Théophile Gautier), it describes something as faithful and exact as a photograph.[5][6]

Timeline

  • 1836 – Landais records photographique “relating to the study of light”.[2][5]
  • 1839 – Art photographique (6 May) and appareil photographique (4 November) at the Académie des sciences.[2][5]
  • 1842 – The Académie française dictionary includes it.[6][7]
  • Before 1872 – Théophile Gautier uses it figuratively.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Photographic: relating to, used in or produced by photography: papier photographique, appareil photographique.[4][8][6]
  2. (figurative) As faithful and exact as a photograph.[4][6][9]

Word family

  • photographiquement

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f 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 Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  9. ^ Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
Cite this entry

“Photographique.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/photographique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·