répulsif

Forms

répulsif (feminine répulsive, masculine plural répulsifs, feminine plural répulsives)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin repulsus (“driven back”), the past participle of repellō (“to drive back, push away”), with the suffix -if, a learned formation.^[2][3][4] Wiktionary also allows a borrowing from Medieval Latin repulsivus.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Physicians used it in 1478 (Chauliac) in the sense “that repels”;^[5][4] the TLFi's first record is the 1495 edition of Jean de Vignay's Miroir historial.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The medical sense went out of use, and the word was rare until it was taken up again in 1705 as a term of physics, in force répulsive, a force opposed to cohesion that keeps the molecules of a body from touching.^[4][2][5] Rousseau gave it about 1772 the figurative, literary sense “arousing aversion”.^[4][5][2] In the 20th century it became a noun in agriculture and pharmacology for a substance that drives away harmful animals, especially insects.^[4][2]

Timeline

• 1478 – Chauliac uses it in medicine for “that repels”.^[5][4]
• 1495 – An edition of Jean de Vignay's Miroir historial has it.^[2]
• 1705 – A. Parent's force répulsive in physics.^[2][5][4]
• c. 1772 – Rousseau uses the sense “arousing aversion”.^[5][4]
• 20th century – It becomes a noun for an insect repellent.^[4][2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (physics) That repels; relating to répulsion, as forces répulsives, the opposite of attractif.^[6][2]
2. (literary) That inspires aversion, repulsive.^[6][5][2]

Noun

1. A product or device that drives away unwanted animals, especially insects, a repellent.^[6][2]

Related words

• répulsion
• repousser¹
• Latin repellō

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