spectroscope

Forms

spectroscope m (plural spectroscopes)^[2]

Etymology

It is formed from French spectro- + -scope, that is from spectre in its sense in physics and the element -scope, which goes back to Ancient Greek σκοπέω (skopéō, “to look at, examine”).^{[1][3][4][5][6]}

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1862 in the Comptes rendus of the Académie des sciences, for an instrument that splits light into a spectrum so that the spectrum can be observed.^[7]

Semantic evolution

The instrument was coined in the years when spectral analysis was being developed: spectroscopie followed in 1864, with spectroscopique, and spectroscopiste in 1876.^[8] The Grand Robert, the Petit Robert and Rey date the noun to 1863, the GLLF only to Littré (1872).^[1][3][8][4] Littré described it as like the spectromètre but less exact, since it lets one examine the lines of a spectrum without locating them precisely.^[5] It was soon used in astronomy to analyse the light of stars and meteors.^[7] The spectroscope de comparaison, which sets two spectra side by side to analyse metals quickly, is recorded in 1964.^[4]

Timeline

• 1862 – First recorded in the Comptes rendus of the Académie des sciences.^[7]
• 1864 – Spectroscopie and spectroscopique follow.^[8]
• 1872 – Littré records the word.^[4]
• 1876 – Spectroscopiste “specialist in spectroscopy” appears.^[8]
• 1964 – The Larousse records spectroscope de comparaison.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (physics) An instrument that disperses light or other radiation into a spectrum, for direct visual observation and analysis of its components: un spectroscope à prisme.^[7][3][9]
2. A device that displays a frequency or energy spectrum, for example on a cathode screen.^[10]

Word family

• spectroscopique
• spectroscopiste

Related words

• spectre
• spectroscopie
• spectromètre
• spectrographe

References

1. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
2. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
3. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 12, 507a
7. ^ a b c d 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
8. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)