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volcanique

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Etymology and origin of the French word volcanique

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1778 Faujas de Saint-Fond More words from the 18th century
Ultimate origin
Latin Vulcānus
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Spanish volcán
French volcan
French volcanique
English volcanic
Italian vulcano
English volcano
Romanian vulcan

Pronunciation

  • /vɔl.ka.nik/[1]

Forms

volcanique (plural volcaniques)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French volcan + -ique.[2][3][1] The base noun is from Spanish volcán, from Latin Vulcānus (“Vulcan, god of fire”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1778, in Faujas de Saint-Fond's Recherches sur les volcans éteints du Vivarais et du Velay, in substance volcanique “produced by volcanoes”.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

From 1781 it also meant “relating to volcanoes” (époques volcaniques).[2] It won out over volcanien (1784), which competed with it for a time.[5] Figurative uses followed quickly: of feelings and impulses (Napoleon, 1796, des mouvements impétueux aussi volcaniques que le tonnerre), of a turbulent situation (1801, commotions volcaniques de la révolution) and of a person (Sainte-Beuve, 1862).[2][5] Roches volcaniques is recorded in 1845.[5][6] Volcanicité (1813) and volcaniquement (1876) were derived from it.[5]

Timeline

  • 1778 – Faujas de Saint-Fond writes substance volcanique.[2]
  • 1781 – Barruel uses époques volcaniques.[2]
  • 1796 – Napoleon uses it figuratively of feelings.[2][5]
  • 1801 – Crèvecœur writes of commotions volcaniques de la révolution.[2]
  • 1845 – Roches volcaniques is recorded.[5][6]
  • 1862 – Sainte-Beuve applies it to a person.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Volcanic: relating to volcanoes and their activity, or coming from a volcano: une éruption volcanique, des roches volcaniques.[7][8][1]
  2. Having volcanoes: Les Açores forment un archipel volcanique.[7]
  3. (figurative, literary) Fiery, impetuous, full of passion: un caractère volcanique.[7][8][6]

Word family

  • volcaniquement
  • volcanicité

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Volcanique.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/volcanique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·