polarité

Forms

polarité f (plural polarités)^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned derivative from French polaire + -ité.^[2][3][4][5] The adjective is from Medieval Latin polaris (“situated near a pole”).^[2] The TLFi and Rey point out that English polarity existed earlier, in the magnetic sense from 1646 and in physics from 1788, and Rey thinks the English word may have influenced the later French senses.^[2][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Encyclopédie of 1765 has it for the property of a magnet of turning towards the poles.^[2][6][7]

Semantic evolution

Like pôle and polaire, the word spread from magnetism to physics in general (1790), to electricity (1806, polarité électrique) and to biology (1808, Cuvier).^[2][6] Littré also gives a naval sense: the effect that the iron on board a ship has on its compasses.^[8] In the 20th century the GLLF records a mathematical sense, a system any two points of which differ, and the polarity of the egg in biology (Caullery, 1942).^[4][9] In chemistry it is used of a molecule whose charges form electrically charged zones.^[2][5] Wiktionnaire also gives a sense in grammar, the contrast between affirmative and negative statements.^[10]

Timeline

• 1765 – First record, in the Encyclopédie, in magnetism.^[2][6]
• 1790 – Used in physics, in a translation from the Philosophical Transactions.^[2]
• 1806 – Polarité électrique appears.^[2]
• 1808 – Cuvier uses it in biology.^[2][6]
• 1942 – Caullery speaks of the polarity of the egg.^[4][9]

Meanings

Noun

1. (physics) The property of a magnet or magnetized needle of pointing in a fixed direction in a magnetic field.^[4][8]
2. (physics, mathematics) The state of a system with two opposite or distinct poles: la polarité d'une pile.^[7][2]
3. (electricity) The quality that tells one terminal of an electrical source or component from the other.^[4][10]
4. (chemistry) The property of a molecule whose electric charges form oppositely charged zones.^[2][5]
5. (biology) The fact that a cell, organ or embryo has two poles that differ in structure or function.^[7][5]
6. (linguistics) The contrast between affirmative and negative statements.^[10]

Related words

• polaire
• pôle
• polariser
• bipolarité
• English polarity

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
6. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
10. ^ a b c Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org