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psychiatrique

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Etymology and origin of the French word psychiatrique

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1842 Académie, Complément More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek ψυχή,ἰατρός
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French psychiatrie
French psychiatrique

Pronunciation

  • /psi.kja.tʁik/[1]

Forms

psychiatrique (plural psychiatriques)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French psychiatrie + -ique.[2][1][3][4] The noun in turn is from French psychiatre with the suffix -ie,[2] and the latter (1802) is compounded from Ancient Greek ψυχή (psukhḗ, “soul”) and ἰατρός (iatrós, “physician”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1842, in the Complément of the Académie's dictionary, at the same time as psychiatrie, meaning “relating to psychiatry”.[2][3][6]

Semantic evolution

Rey thinks that the adjective spread together with psychiatrie a little before 1900.[6] The phrase hôpital psychiatrique is recorded in 1954 and replaced the older asile d'aliénés.[7][2] In the 20th century it gave the adverb psychiatriquement.[6]

Timeline

  • 1802 – Psychiatre is first recorded.[5]
  • 1842 – Psychiatrique and psychiatrie appear in the Complément of the Académie's dictionary.[2][6]
  • c. 1900 – The adjective comes into wider use.[6]
  • 1954 – Hôpital psychiatrique is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Psychiatric, relating to psychiatry or to psychiatrists: une expertise psychiatrique.[2][4][1]
  2. Hôpital psychiatrique: a hospital for the treatment of mental illness.[7][4][2]

Word family

  • psychiatriquement

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
Cite this entry

“Psychiatrique.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/psychiatrique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·