polarisation

Forms

polarisation f (plural polarisations)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French polariser + -ation.^[2][1][3][4] The verb is a learned derivative of polaire with -iser, first used in optics by Malus in 1810.^[2] The adjective is from Medieval Latin polaris (“near a pole”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The physicist Malus introduced the word in optics in a memoir read in March 1811: En donnant à ces côtés le nom de pôles, j'appellerai polarisation la modification qui donne à la lumière des propriétés relatives à ces pôles (“Calling these sides poles, I shall call polarisation the change that gives light properties relative to these poles”).^[2] The Robert dictionaries and the GLLF date it to 1810, the year of the memoir.^[3][4][5]

Semantic evolution

From optics the word passed to electricity: polarisation voltaïque is recorded in 1838 and polarisation des électrodes, the products formed around the electrodes in electrolysis, in 1857.^[2][4] The GLLF dates its biological sense, for an organ or organism whose two ends differ along an axis, to 1845 (Bescherelle).^[5]

The figurative sense, the drawing of forces, thoughts or interests towards one point, is found in Renan in 1883.^[2][5] The verb had gained the matching sense “to draw together at one point” in Baudelaire in 1860.^[2]

The English word polarization (1812) comes partly from the French noun, according to Etymonline.^[6]

Timeline

• 1810 – Malus uses the verb polariser in optics.^[2]
• 1811 – Malus names the change in light polarisation.^[2]
• 1838 – Schönbein speaks of polarisation voltaïque.^[2]
• 1845 – Bescherelle records a biological sense.^[5]
• 1857 – Polarisation des électrodes is recorded.^[2]
• 1869 – Littré has angle de polarisation and plan de polarisation.^[5][7]
• 1883 – Renan uses it figuratively.^[2][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (optics) polarization: the change by which light acquires different properties in different planes around its direction of propagation.^[2][4]
2. (electricity) The separation of positive and negative charges in a body under an electric field, and the resulting potential difference; in electrolysis, the forming of products near the electrodes that change the current.^[4]
3. (biology) The property of an organ or organism whose two ends differ along an axis of symmetry.^[5]
4. (figurative) The drawing together or concentration of forces, efforts or thoughts around one or more points.^[2][8]

Related words

• polariser
• polaire
• pôle
• English polarization

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ 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
6. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)