Origin and history of analyze

c. 1600, of material things, "to dissect, take to pieces," in form apparently from French analyser, from the noun analyse "analysis" (see analysis). However the French verb is not attested until late 17c., and Weekley writes that "Most likely the word analytic was borrowed directly from the Gk. [analytikos], and the verb to analyse may easily have been formed directly from the sb. analysis ...," which is earlier in English and from Medieval Latin.

In reference to literature, "examine critically to get the essence of," by 1610s. Jonson, praising Virgil in "Poetaster" (staged 1601), says of his Roman model:

His learning labors not the school-like gloss

That most consists of echoing words and terms ...

But a direct and analytic sum

Of all the worth and first effects of arts.

The meaning in chemistry ("resolve a compound into elements") dates from 1660s. The general sense of "to examine closely" dates from 1809; the psychological sense is by 1909. Related: Analyzed; analyzing.

On the French substantives analyse and paralysie were based the verbs analyser and paralyser ; and from them we made our verbs. Our analysis and paralysis would have yielded analysize and paralysize. [Fitzedward Hall, "Modern English," 1873]