English
ion
Ion comes from Ancient Greek ἰόν ‘going’, from εἶμι ‘I go’, 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 BCEεἶμιeîmi‘I go’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἰόνión‘going’neuter present participle of εἶμι
- Englishtodayion
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 BCEεἶμιeîmi‘I go’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἰόνión‘going’neuter present participle of εἶμι
- Englishtodayion
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, initiate, ambitious, ambient, ambition, eyre, initiation, initiator, ambiance, sedition, ambit, 19 more
through Proto-Hellenic *éimi ‘to go’
Today it means
noun An atom or group of atoms bearing an electrical charge, such as the sodium and chlorine atoms in a salt solution.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₁ey- / ion