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phrénologie

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Etymology and origin of the French word phrénologie

Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1810 Spurzheim More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek φρήν

Forms

phrénologie f (plural phrénologies)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French phréno- + -logie, the first element being from Ancient Greek φρήν (phrḗn, “mind, intelligence”).[2][1][3][4] The word was used by G. Spurzheim, Gall's pupil and collaborator, for the doctrine Gall had first called craniologie (1807).[2][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Grand Robert, the GLLF and the Petit Robert date it to 1810, from Spurzheim;[5][6][4] the TLFi's first records are of 1818, in Spurzheim's Observations sur la phraenologie and in Gall's Anatomie et physiologie du cerveau.[2]

Semantic evolution

The word named Gall's theory, widespread in the 19th century, that a person's instincts, character and faculties depend on the shape of the brain and can be read from the bumps of the skull.[2][6] It is now a term of the history of science for a doctrine long abandoned.[4][6] The adjective phrénologique is recorded from 1828,[2] and the English word phrenology from 1815.[7]

Timeline

  • 1807 – Gall calls his doctrine craniologie.[2]
  • 1810 – Spurzheim uses phrénologie.[5][6]
  • 1818 – Phraenologie is in the title of Spurzheim's Observations.[2]
  • 1828 – First record of phrénologique.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (history of science) Phrenology, the study of a person's character and faculties from the shape of the skull.[4][2][1]

Word family

  • phrénologique

References

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  4. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Phrénologie.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/phr%C3%A9nologie. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·