biologic

Forms

biologic m or n (feminine singular biologică, masculine plural biologici, feminine/neuter plural biologice)^[1] The first record has the form viologic, and an old variant viologicesc is also recorded; their ⟨v⟩ follows the Modern Greek pronunciation of the Greek word.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from French biologique.^[4][5][6][1] DELR also names borrowed from Italian biologico, and Tiktin borrowed from Modern Greek βιολογικός (biologikós); the old form with ⟨v⟩ reflects the Greek pronunciation.^[2][3] Wiktionary also analyses it as biologie with the suffix -ic.^[1] The French adjective is formed biologie and -ique.^[1] Scriban notes that Ancient Greek βιολογικός (biologikós) meant “biographical”.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is in I. Golescu's Condica around 1832, in the form viologic, “relating to biology”.^[2][3] Biologie is first recorded in the same work.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Besides “relating to biology”, the adjective means “made from living matter”, of preparations.^[5][4] It forms terms such as chimie biologică “biochemistry” and armă biologică “biological weapon”.^[5][6][8] French compounds in -biologique followed from the late 19th century, such as microbiologic (1889) and hidrobiologic (1912).^[2]

Timeline

• c. 1832 – first record, viologic, in Golescu's Condica.^[2][3]
• 1889 – microbiologic.^[2]
• 1912 – hidrobiologic, in Antipa.^[2]
• 1931 – CADE records biologic “of biology” as a French loan.^[9]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Belonging or relating to biology; biological: chimie biologică “biochemistry”.^[5][4][1]
2. Made from living matter;^[5][4][8] armă biologică “biological weapon”, one carrying viruses or bacteria.^[5][4][8]

Related words

• biologie
• biolog
• French biologique

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Academia Română, Institutul de Lingvistică „Iorgu Iordan – Al. Rosetti” (2011–), Dicționarul etimologic al limbii române (DELR), vol. I: A–B (2011), vol. II: C (2015–2018), București: Editura Academiei Române; continued online at delr.lingv.ro, p. s.v. biologie
3. ^ a b c d Tiktin, Hariton (2000–2005), Rumänisch-deutsches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., revised by Paul Miron and Elsa Lüder, 3 vols., Cluj-Napoca: Clusium, p. s.v. biologic
4. ^ a b c d e Academia Română, Institutul de Lingvistică „Iorgu Iordan – Al. Rosetti” (2010), Micul dicționar academic, 2nd ed., 4 vols., București: Univers Enciclopedic Gold, p. 1, 209
5. ^ a b c d e f DEX (2009), Dicționarul explicativ al limbii române [Explanatory dictionary of the Romanian language], Bucharest: Editura Univers Enciclopedic, p. 105
6. ^ a b Marcu, Florin (2000), Marele dicționar de neologisme, București: Saeculum Vizual
7. ^ Scriban, August (1939), Dicționaru limbii românești (etimologii, înțelesuri, exemple, citațiuni, arhaizme, neologizme, provincializme), Iași: Presa Bună, p. 171
8. ^ a b c Dima, Eugenia (coord.) (2007), Dicționar explicativ ilustrat al limbii române, Chișinău: Arc / Gunivas
9. ^ Candrea, I.-A.; Adamescu, Gh. (1926–1931), Dicționarul enciclopedic ilustrat „Cartea Românească”, București: Cartea Românească