Etymograph

English

lithium

Lithium comes from Ancient Greek λίθος ‘stone’.

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλίθοςlíthos‘stone’
  2. New Latinc. 1500–1900lithium
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1994same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλίθοςlíthos‘stone’
  2. New Latinc. 1500–1900lithium
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1994same form

Earliest quotation: 1994, Elizabeth Wurtzel, Prozac Nation: Young and Depressed in America: “There's more: Part of the reason I am so…”

Linked words

through Ancient Greek λίθος ‘stone’

collide, lesion, 11 more

Today it means

noun The simplest alkali metal, the lightest solid element, and the third lightest chemical element (symbol Li) with an atomic number of 3 and atomic weight of 6.94. It is a soft, silvery metal.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Ancient Greek λίθος / lithium

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