arsenic

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms

   Arsenic and arsenic compounds are used as herbicides and insecticides and various alloys.

2. 2
   noun

   A toxic grey brittle nonmetallic chemical element (symbol As) with an atomic number of 33.

   CSPI says the Trump Administration could take steps to protect consumers from each of these chemicals and support FDA’s broader post-market assessment efforts. It could ensure that FDA sets health-protective limits on heavy metals, like lead, arsenic, and cadmium, in foods consumed by children.

3. 3
   noun

   a white powdered poisonous trioxide of arsenic

4. 4
   noun

   A single atom of this element.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Arsenic came from Greek arsenikon, probably transmitted earlier through a Semitic language from a lost Persian word related to Avestan zaranya-, “gold.” In English it first denoted yellow arsenic sulphide, or orpiment, which was used as a dye and artists’ pigment, before becoming the name of the chemical element.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃-der. Proto-Indo-Iranian *ȷ́ʰr̥Hanyam Proto-Iranian *jr̥Hanyam Old Median *zaranyam Old Median *kā Old Median *zaraniyakāder. Middle Persian *zarnīkbor. Classical Syriac ܙܪܢܝܟܐ (zarnīḵā)der. Arabic الزَرْنِيخ (az-zarnīḵ)bor. Byzantine Greek ἀρσενικόν (arsenikón)der. Latin arsenicumder. Middle French arsenicbor. Middle English arsenik English arsenic From Middle English arsenik, borrowed from Middle French arsenic, from Latin arsenicum, from Ancient Greek ἀρσενικόν (arsenikón, “yellow arsenic”) (influenced by ἀρσενικός (arsenikós, “potent, virile”)), fr...

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External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
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