oxygen

Where does the word "oxygen" come from? It comes from Greek oxys, passing through French before entering English (1790).

Oxygen’s story begins in Greek: oxys meant “sharp, acid.” Sharp, acid, describing the taste of acids this element was thought to form. By 1777, the word had taken hold in French as oxygene. Coined by Lavoisier from Greek oxys (sharp) and -gene (producer), believing the element was essential to all acids. It reached English by 1790 as oxygen. Lavoisier named it 'acid-former' in 1777, wrongly thinking all acids contain oxygen. Today, oxygen means a colorless, odorless gas essential to respiration and combustion.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient oxys "sharp, acid", sharp, acid, describing the taste of acids this element was thought to form.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1777 oxygene "acid-producer", coined by Lavoisier from Greek oxys (sharp) and -gene (producer), believing the element was essential to all acids.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1790 oxygen "a colorless gas essential to combustion and respiration", Lavoisier named it 'acid-former' in 1777, wrongly thinking all acids contain oxygen.