sexuel

Forms

sexuel (feminine sexuelle, masculine plural sexuels, feminine plural sexuelles)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin sexuālis (“of the female sex”), derived from sexus (“sex, sexual organs”).^[2][3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1742 in A. J. Dezallier d'Argenville's natural history, in sistême sexuel, the theory that plants have two sexes.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

The word first belonged to biology, applying to what relates to sex in animals and plants: parties sexuelles and organes sexuels are recorded from 1761.^[2][3] In 1890 it was used for sexué in reproduction sexuelle, a use that has disappeared.^[2][3] It came to qualify the differences and behaviour linked to sex (1798) and what concerns sexuality (1835, instinct sexuel; 1852, relations sexuelles).^[3][2] In the 20th century psychoanalysis widened it to the drives and the libido.^[3] It became fashionable in phrases such as bombe sexuelle.^[3]

Its derivatives include sexualité (1838) and sexuellement (1882), and it forms many prefixed compounds, most of them coined in the late 19th century.^[3]

Timeline

• 1742 – Sistême sexuel appears in Dezallier d'Argenville.^[2]
• 1761 – Parties sexuelles and organes sexuels appear in Robinet.^[2]
• 1798 – The Académie records it of differences between the sexes.^[7]
• 1835 – Instinct sexuel is recorded by the Académie.^[2]
• 1838 – The derivative sexualité appears.^[3]
• 1852 – Relations sexuelles appears in Auguste Comte.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (biology) Relating to sex, to the structures and reproductive functions of male and female: organes sexuels, caractères sexuels.^[8][2]
2. Having to do with sexuality and the satisfaction of erotic needs: instinct sexuel, relations sexuelles.^[8][2]
3. (psychoanalysis) Relating to the drives and the libido.^[3]

Word family

• sexualité
• sexuellement
• asexuel

Related words

• sexe
• sexué
• homosexuel
• Latin sexus

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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert