Etymology and origin of the French word vif-argent
- Confidence
- Established
- Formation
- Compound, Calque
- First attested
- c. 1150 Charroi de Nîmes More words from the 12th century
- Ultimate origin
- Latin argentum vīvum
Etymology tree
From the same root
Pronunciation
- /vi.faʁ.ʒɑ̃/[1]
Forms
vif-argent m (uncountable)[1] Old French vis argent (mid-12th century); also argent vif from 1270.[2][3]
Etymology
It is formed from French vif (“living”) + argent (“silver”),[2][4][5] on the model of Latin argentum vīvum (“quicksilver”), which Pliny already applied to mercury and which the alchemists used.[6][3][7] The Latin phrase passed into the Romance languages: compare Italian argento vivo.[6][3] German Quecksilber and English quicksilver are formed in the same way.[6]
Earliest recorded meaning
It appears as vis argent about 1150 in the Charroi de Nîmes, meaning mercury.[2][3] Bloch and Wartburg and the Grand Robert date it only to the 13th century; the GLLF cites Étienne Boileau, about 1268.[6][4][7]
Semantic evolution
Vif-argent and argent vif named mercury, competing with the word mercure from the 16th century, but stayed in ordinary use until Lavoisier.[3] Littré quotes a 13th-century guild statute against loading dice with quicksilver or lead.[8]
The word survives in literature in figurative uses for a restless, lively person: avoir du vif-argent dans les veines (1640) and c'est du vif-argent (1798).[3][2]
Timeline
- c. 1150 – Vis argent appears in the Charroi de Nîmes.[2][3]
- 1270 – Argent vif is recorded.[3]
- 1368 – The form vif-argent is recorded.[3]
- 16th century – Mercure begins to compete with it.[3]
- 1640 – Avoir du vif-argent dans les veines is recorded.[3]
- 1798 – C'est du vif-argent is recorded.[3]
Meanings
Noun
- (dated) mercury, quicksilver.[2][5][9]
- (figurative, familiar) Liveliness, quickness of movement, in avoir du vif-argent dans les veines and c'est du vif-argent, said of a very lively person.[2][9][7]
Related words
- vif
- argent
- mercure
- Latin argentum
- English quicksilver
Usage notes
Vif-argent was pronounced vivargent until about the end of the 18th century.[3] Littré notes that argent vif was also sometimes said.[8]
References
- ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g 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
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
- ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
- ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
- ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry
“Vif-argent.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/vif-argent. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.
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