mineral

Where does the word "mineral" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin minera, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Mineral’s story begins in Medieval Latin: minera meant “an ore, a mine.” Possibly of Celtic origin; the root of 'mine'. It reached English by 1400s as mineral. Settled as the English word for a naturally occurring solid substance. Today, mineral means a naturally occurring solid substance formed through geological processes.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval minera "an ore, a mine", possibly of Celtic origin; the root of 'mine'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s mineral "a naturally occurring solid inorganic substance", settled as the English word for a naturally occurring solid substance.