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polymérisation

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Etymology and origin of the French word polymérisation

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1869 A. Gautier, Des nitriles More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
French polymériser,-ation

Forms

polymérisation f (plural polymérisations)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French polymériser + -ation.[2][1][3] The verb polymériser (1869) is itself derived from polymère,[2][4] which is formed of poly- and the element -mère, from the Greek word for “part”.[4] The chemical sense of that word was coined by the Swedish chemist Berzelius in 1831, according to Cottez.[2] The GLLF treats the noun as a learned derivative straight from the adjective and noun.[5]

In English, polymerisation is recorded from 1872 and the verb polymerize from 1865.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1869 in A. Gautier's paper on nitriles in the Annales de chimie et de physique (sa polymérisation est moins avancée “its polymerization is less advanced”).[2][6]

Semantic evolution

The word was created for chemistry and has kept that use: the union of several identical molecules into a new body of higher molecular weight, and the operations that bring it about.[2][7] Before Quemada's datings, the GLLF and the Grand Robert dated it only to Larousse's supplement of 1878.[6][5][3] With the growth of plastics it named the reaction that builds macromolecular chains, and phrases such as résines de polymérisation became common.[8][7]

Timeline

  • 1869 – First record, in A. Gautier's work on nitriles; the verb se polymériser appears in the same paper.[2][6]
  • 1872 – English polymerisation is recorded.[2]
  • 1878 – Larousse's supplement enters the word.[3][5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (chemistry) polymerization: the joining of many molecules of a compound into one large molecule.[7][2][1]
  2. (chemistry) The reaction or set of operations by which such macromolecular chains are formed: résines de polymérisation.[8][2][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b c Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Polymérisation.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/polym%C3%A9risation. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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