English
cation
Cation comes from Ancient Greek κᾰτῐόν, from κᾰ́τειμῐ ‘to go down, come down’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ey- ‘to go’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁ey-‘to go’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁éyti‘to go, to be going’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*éimi‘to go’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEεἶμῐ‘to go, come’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκᾰ́τειμῐkắteimĭ‘to go down, come down’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκᾰτῐόνkătĭónneuter present participle of κᾰ́τειμῐ
- Englishtodaycation
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁ey-‘to go’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁éyti‘to go, to be going’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*éimi‘to go’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEεἶμῐ‘to go, come’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκᾰ́τειμῐkắteimĭ‘to go down, come down’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκᾰτῐόνkătĭónneuter present participle of κᾰ́τειμῐ
- Englishtodaycation
The story
Coined by English polymath William Whewell in 1834 for Michael Faraday, who introduced it later that year.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁ey- ‘to go’
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁éyti ‘to go, to be going’
initial, initiative, transition, ambient, ambitious, initiate, ambition, eyre, initiation, ambiance, ambit, sedition, initiator, 19 more
through Proto-Hellenic *éimi ‘to go’
through Ancient Greek εἶμῐ ‘to go, come’
Today it means
noun A positively charged ion: one that would be attracted to the cathode in electrolysis.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₁ey- / cation