arsenic

Where does the word "arsenic" come from? It comes from Greek arsenikon, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Arsenic’s story begins in Greek: arsenikon meant “yellow orpiment, a poisonous mineral.” Yellow orpiment, folk-linked to arsenikos (male, potent) for its strength as a poison. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as arsenicum. Carried into Latin for the same toxic mineral. From there it passed into Old French as arsenic by medieval. Carried into French for the poisonous substance. It reached English by 1300s as arsenic. Settled as the English word for the toxic element. Today, arsenic means a toxic metalloid element long known as a poison.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient arsenikon "yellow orpiment, a poisonous mineral", yellow orpiment, folk-linked to arsenikos (male, potent) for its strength as a poison.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient arsenicum "the toxic mineral", carried into Latin for the same toxic mineral.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval arsenic "the poisonous substance", carried into French for the poisonous substance.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s arsenic "a toxic metalloid element", settled as the English word for the toxic element.