réfrigérateur

Forms

réfrigérateur m (plural réfrigérateurs)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French réfrigérer + -ateur.^[2][3][4] Rey takes it as drawn directly from the French verb rather than borrowed, as a noun, from Latin refrīgerātōrius (“cooling”),^[3] which the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert give as its source.^[5][6] The Latin adjective had given réfrigératoire in the 16th century, a vessel for cooling things in cold water.^[3] The verb itself is from Latin refrīgerō (“to cool, refresh”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Rey dates it to 1552, the TLFi to Cotgrave's dictionary of 1611; it first meant “that which refreshes” or cools.^[3][2][5]

Semantic evolution

In the 19th century it named an apparatus for cooling, first in science, a part that cools condensed steam (1857).^[3][5] In 1892 it was a box that kept food cold with melting ice, and in 1933 a gas or electric appliance for chilling and keeping food,^[2] which replaced the icebox.^[3] In everyday speech it competes with the clipping frigo and the brand name Frigidaire and remains rather formal.^[3][6] Figuratively, mettre au réfrigérateur is “to put aside for a time” (1962).^[2][3] It is also an adjective, “able to cool” (mid-20th century).^[3][4]

Timeline

• 1552 – First record, “that which refreshes”.^[3]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records it.^[2][4]
• 1857 – Used for a part that cools condensed steam.^[3][5]
• 1892 – An apparatus keeping food cool with ice.^[2]
• 1933 – The gas or electric refrigerator.^[2][3]
• 1962 – Mettre au réfrigérateur “to shelve”.^[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A refrigerator, a household appliance with an insulated cabinet and a cooling unit, used to keep food and drinks cold without freezing them in its main compartment: range le lait dans le réfrigérateur.^[6][2]
2. (figurative, familiar) Mettre au réfrigérateur: to put something aside, shelve it for a time.^[2]

Related words

• réfrigérer
• réfrigération
• frigo
• frigidaire

References

1. ^ a b 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 i j k l m Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert