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radium

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Etymology and origin of the French word radium

Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1898 P. and M. Curie and G. Bémont, Comptes rendus de l'Académie des sciences More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
Latin radius
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French radium
English radium
Italian radio

Pronunciation

Forms

radium m (uncountable)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French radio- + -ium, from radioactif with the suffix of metal names.[2][3][4][1] Rey thinks this more likely than a direct formation on Latin radius (“ray”) with a change of suffix;[5] Bloch and Wartburg and the GLLF derive the name straight from the Latin word.[6][7] The FEW files it under the Latin word.[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

The name was proposed on 26 December 1898 by Pierre and Marie Curie and Gustave Bémont in the Comptes rendus de l'Académie des sciences, for the new element they believed the radioactive substance contained.[2][5][7]

Semantic evolution

The word has kept the single sense of the radioactive element found in pitchblende residues.[5][2] It formed the compounds radiumthérapie (1905) and radiumbiologie (1923), which later gave way to words in radio-.[5] German Radon, made from it by a change of suffix, was borrowed in French as radon in 1923 for the emanation of radium.[5]

English radium is recorded from 1899, taken from the French name.[9]

Timeline

  • 1898 – The Curies and Bémont propose the name in the Comptes rendus.[2][5]
  • 1899 – English radium is recorded.[9]
  • 1905 – Radiumthérapie appears.[5]
  • 1923 – Radon is borrowed from German.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (chemistry) radium, the radioactive metallic element of atomic number 88 (symbol Ra), of the uranium family.[4][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e 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 Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  7. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  8. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 10, 24b
  9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Radium.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/radium. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·