English
lithia
Lithia comes from Ancient Greek λίθος ‘a stone’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλίθοςlíthos‘a stone’
- Englishearliest quotation 1990lithia
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλίθοςlíthos‘a stone’
- Englishearliest quotation 1990lithia
Earliest quotation: 1990, A. Paul, Chemistry of Glasses: “This can be an acute problem with certain glass-ceramics…”
The story
Borrowed from Ancient Greek λίθος (líthos, “a stone”), apparently because it is found only in minerals; discovered 1817 by Johan August Arfwedson.
Linked words
through Ancient Greek λίθος ‘a stone’
Today it means
noun Lithium oxide, Li₂O, used in the manufacture of ceramics and glass.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek λίθος / lithia