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prismatique

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Etymology and origin of the French word prismatique

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1659 Pascal, Lettre de M. Dettonville à M. de Carcavi More words from the 17th century
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek πρίσμα
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin prisma
English prism
French prisme
French prismatique

Pronunciation

  • /pʁis.ma.tik/[1]

Forms

prismatique (plural prismatiques)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French prisme + -ique, on the stem of the Greek genitive πρίσματος (prísmatos), from Ancient Greek πρίσμα (prísma, “prism”).[2][1][3] The GLLF calls it a learned derivative of Late Latin prisma.[4] The TLFi compares English prismatic, recorded from 1728 of the colours of the prism.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Pascal, in the sense “prism-shaped”: the TLFi cites his Lettre de M. Dettonville à M. de Carcavi (1659), while the Grand Robert and the GLLF give 1647.[2][3][5][4]

Semantic evolution

From the geometric sense “having the form of a prism” the word passed into optics: it described the colours seen through a prism from 1754, and instruments fitted with prisms, as in jumelles prismatiques (1916, Barbusse).[2][3] It also became a technical term in mineralogy for long, angular crystals, in geometry (surface prismatique) and in pyrotechnics (poudre prismatique).[2][4] In botany Littré used it of organs with long angles separated by facets.[6] The verb prismatiser (1802) was derived from it.[3]

Timeline

  • 1647 – The date the Grand Robert and the GLLF give for Pascal's use.[5][4]
  • 1659 – Pascal uses it in the Lettre de M. Dettonville à M. de Carcavi.[2][3]
  • 1754 – Couleurs prismatiques appears, in Bonnet.[2][3]
  • 1762 – The Académie records couleurs prismatiques.[4]
  • 1802 – The verb prismatiser is derived from it.[3]
  • 1916 – Barbusse writes of jumelles prismatiques in Le Feu.[2][3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Having the shape of a prism: des basaltes prismatiques.[7][2][8]
  2. (geometry) Surface prismatique: a surface generated by a line moving parallel to itself along a polygon.[2][8]
  3. (optics) Fitted with one or more prisms: jumelles prismatiques, prism binoculars.[7][9][2]
  4. Couleurs prismatiques: the colours seen through a prism, the spectral colours.[7][8]
  5. (pyrotechnics) Poudre prismatique: a gunpowder in large six-sided grains pierced by a central channel.[4][8]

Word family

  • prismatiser
  • prisme
  • Ancient Greek πρίσμα (prísma)

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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 d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Prismatique.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/prismatique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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