Etymology Map
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Element

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a basic part of something; a substance of one type of atom

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
elementum
Latin · classical
"first principle; letter"
origin unknown; Lucretius used it for the basic particles of matter and for the letters of the alphabet
2
Stage 2 of 3
element
Old French · 1200s
"basic substance"
one of the four elements, earth, water, air and fire
3
Stage 3 of 3
element
English · 1300s
"chemical element; component"
Dmitri Mendeleev's periodic table of 1869 arranged the chemical elements and left gaps for ones yet to be found
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Read the full story

Element’s story begins in Latin: elementum meant “first principle; letter.” Origin unknown; Lucretius used it for the basic particles of matter and for the letters of the alphabet. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Old French as element. One of the four elements, earth, water, air and fire. It reached English by 1300s as element. Dmitri Mendeleev's periodic table of 1869 arranged the chemical elements and left gaps for ones yet to be found. Today, element means a basic part of something; a substance of one type of atom.