arsenic
|ar-se-nic|
🇺🇸
/ˈɑɹsənɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˈɑːsənɪk/
toxic metalloid element
Etymology
'arsenic' originates from Medieval Latin 'arsenicum', specifically the word 'arsenicum', where the term referred to the yellow mineral orpiment (an arsenic sulfide).
'arsenic' changed from the Greek word 'arsenikon' (ἀρσενικόν) into Medieval Latin 'arsenicum', then entered Middle English (as 'arsenik'/'arsenike') and eventually became the modern English 'arsenic'.
Initially, it meant 'the yellow orpiment mineral', but over time it came to denote the chemical element arsenic and its compounds, especially in contexts of toxicity and poisoning.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a chemical element with symbol As and atomic number 33; a brittle, gray metalloid often found in ores.
Arsenic occurs naturally in the earth's crust and is found in some groundwater.
Synonyms
Noun 2
compounds of arsenic (especially arsenic trioxide) used historically and sometimes currently as a poison.
The victim had been poisoned with arsenic.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
relating to or containing arsenic.
The analysis showed an elevated arsenic content in the sample.
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/10/20 15:55