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satanique

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Etymology and origin of the French word satanique

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1475 Jean Molinet, Le Temple de Mars More words from the 15th century
Ultimate origin
Biblical Hebrew שָׂטָן

Pronunciation

Forms

satanique (plural sataniques)[2]

Etymology

It is formed from French Satan + -ique.[3][4][5] The TLFi compares a 4th-century Greek adjective and Medieval Latin satanicus of the 12th century, and Rey treats the French word as both a derivative of the proper name and a borrowing of the Medieval Latin word.[3][6] Littré notes that the 16th century said satanesque.[7]

Satan itself is from Church Latin Satan or Satanas, from Greek, a word of Hebrew origin: Biblical Hebrew שָׂטָן (śāṭān, “adversary”).[3][6][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record is in Jean Molinet's Temple de Mars (1475), where War has a horned, long head that recalls Satan: Guerre a le chief cornu, long, satanique.[3][5]

Semantic evolution

The word is rare before the 18th century.[1] From the sense “that makes one think of Satan” (1475) it came to mean “belonging to Satan” (1691) and, after 1850, “inspired by the spirit of evil, worthy of Satan”.[6][5] Its family includes sataniste (1577), sataniser (1832) and satanisme, which meant a satanic spirit in 1842 and the worship of Satan in Baudelaire (1855).[6]

Timeline

  • 1475 – Jean Molinet uses it of something that recalls Satan.[3][6]
  • 16th century – The form satanesque is used.[7]
  • 1691 – It means “belonging to Satan”.[6][5]
  • after 1850 – It takes the sense “inspired by the spirit of evil”.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of Satan, belonging to or inspired by him; of Satanism: un rituel satanique.[1][8]
  2. That recalls Satan, worthy of him, diabolical, fiendish: une ruse satanique.[1][8][5]
  • satanisme
  • sataniste
  • démoniaque
  • Medieval Latin satanicus

References

  1. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  2. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Satanique.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/satanique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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