'aureous' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'aurēus', where 'aurum' meant 'gold'.

'aureous' came into English from Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'aurēus' (meaning 'golden'), and was adopted into English with the form and sense related to gold.

Initially, it meant 'made of or pertaining to gold', and over time it has been used more generally to mean 'golden in color or appearance'.