English
pyrite
Pyrite comes from Ancient Greek πῠρῑ́της ‘copper pyrites’, from πῦρ ‘fire’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*péh₂wr̥‘fire’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*pāwərreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπῦρpûr‘fire’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπῠρῑ́τηςpŭrī́tēs‘copper pyrites’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpȳritēs
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400pyrite
- Englishearliest quotation 1973pyrite
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*péh₂wr̥‘fire’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*pāwərreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπῦρpûr‘fire’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπῠρῑ́τηςpŭrī́tēs‘copper pyrites’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpȳritēs
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400pyrite
- Englishearliest quotation 1973pyrite
Earliest quotation: 1973, Chiao-min Hsieh, Mining and Manufacturing: “The pyrite output in 1961 was 1.2 million tons,…”
Formed from pyr- + -ite
The story
Recorded since 1555, from Old French pyrite (12th century), from Latin pȳritēs, from Ancient Greek πυρίτης λίθος (purítēs líthos, “stone of fire, flint”) (so called because it glitters), notably the first part: adjective πυρίτης (purítēs, “of or in fire”), from πῦρ (pûr, “fire”).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥ ‘fire’
through Proto-Hellenic *pāwər
through Ancient Greek πῦρ ‘fire’
Today it means
noun The common mineral iron disulfide (FeS₂), of a pale brass-yellow color and brilliant metallic luster, crystallizing in the isometric system.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥ / pyrite