## Etymology
From Medieval Latin amalgama, perhaps from Arabic al-malgham ('emollient poultice'), itself possibly from Ancient Greek málagma ('softening substance'), from malássein ('to soften').

## AI Etymology
amalgam comes from Medieval Latin amalgama, perhaps from Arabic al-malgham ('emollient poultice'), itself possibly from Ancient Greek málagma ('softening substance'), from malássein ('to soften'). The explanation preserves that uncertainty: the proposed comparisons illuminate the form, but they do not turn the word into a securely traced inheritance or borrowing. In modern use, the noun sense is "a blend or mixture, especially an alloy of mercury with another metal", which keeps the etymology connected to the word's present dictionary value rather than treating it as a merely historical label. The wider word family includes related English forms such as amalgamate and derivatives such as amalgamate, amalgamation, amalgamic, showing how the same base continues to support neighboring English vocabulary. The principal historical forms in the chain include Latin amalgama, Ancient Greek málagma, which anchor the explanation in named linguistic material.

## Topics
- Materials & Substances

markdown

amalgam

Meanings

Thesaurus

Etymology

Topics

External links

Keyboard Shortcuts

General

Send feedback