English
argon
Argon comes from Ancient Greek ἀργός ‘idle, lazy’, from ἔργον ‘a work’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- ‘to make’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*werǵ-‘to make’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*wérǵom‘work’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*wérgon‘work’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔργον‘a work’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀργόςargós‘idle, lazy’
- Englishtodayargon
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*werǵ-‘to make’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*wérǵom‘work’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*wérgon‘work’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔργον‘a work’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀργόςargós‘idle, lazy’
- Englishtodayargon
The story
From Ancient Greek ἀργός (argós, “idle, lazy”), because of its inertness, + -on, used for all noble gases.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- ‘to make’
working, wright, organic, organ, boulevard, wrought, orgasm, liturgy, metallurgy, bulwark, irk, irksome, wark, 21 more
through Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom ‘work’
through Ancient Greek ἔργον ‘a work’
Today it means
noun The chemical element (symbol Ar) with an atomic number of 18. The third most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere, it is a colourless, odourless, inert noble gas.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- / argon