'balzacian' originates from French, specifically the proper name 'Balzac' (Honoré de Balzac), with the English adjectival suffix '-ian' meaning 'related to' or 'characteristic of'.

'balzacian' formed in English by attaching the adjectival suffix '-ian' to the proper name 'Balzac' (19th century), producing a term meaning 'of or pertaining to Balzac' and later extending to describe his stylistic qualities.

Initially it meant 'of or pertaining to Balzac' (a direct reference to the author), but over time it evolved into the broader literary sense 'resembling Balzac's style' or 'characteristic of Balzac's themes and methods'.