transformateur

Forms

transformateur m (plural transformateurs)^[1] As an adjective: feminine transformatrice, plurals transformateurs, transformatrices.^[1][2] The noun is often shortened to transfo (1929).^[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French transformer + -ateur.^[4][1][5][2] The verb is in turn from Latin transfōrmō.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found as a noun meaning “one who transforms”, in 1575 in André Thevet's Cosmographie universelle.^[4][3] Bloch and Wartburg, the Petit Robert and the Grand Robert date this noun to 1616, the GLLF to 1617.^[6][2][5][7]

Semantic evolution

The word was taken up again as an adjective, “that transforms”, in 1823.^[4][3][2] As the name of the electrical device that changes the voltage and current of an alternating current, the noun is dated 1842 by the Grand Robert and the DHLF, 1882 by the TLFi, 1888 by the GLLF and 1890 by Bloch and Wartburg.^{[5][3][4][7][6][8]} In this sense it is commonly clipped to transfo (1929).^[2][3] The adjective is also used of industries that process raw materials, as in industrie transformatrice.^[4][7]

Timeline

• 1575 – Thevet uses the noun for “one who transforms”.^[4][3]
• 1823 – First recorded as an adjective, “that transforms”.^[4][2]
• 1842 – The electrical sense appears, according to the Grand Robert.^[5][3]
• 1876 – Larousse records the adjective.^[7][8]
• 1882 – Hospitalier uses the electrical noun.^[4]
• 1929 – The clipped form transfo appears.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Having the power to transform: une action transformatrice.^[2][4]
2. (industry) Processing raw materials into products: industrie transformatrice.^[4][7]

Noun

1. (electricity) A transformer, a device that changes the voltage and current of an alternating current.^[2][4][7]
2. One who transforms something.^[4]

Word family

• transfo

Related words

• transformer
• transformation

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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
5. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF