Where does “nonmetal” come from?
nonmetal (English) comes from English metal, from French métal, from German metall, from Italian metallo, from Spanish metal, from Old Spanish metal, from Old French métal, from Latin metallum — to mine, quarry.
nonmetal (English): An element, such as phosphorus or chlorine, that...
Definitions
- An element, such as phosphorus or chlorine, that...
Ancestry of “nonmetal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | metal | "Chemical elements or alloys, and the mines where... |
| 2 | French | métal | metal |
| 3 | German | metall | — |
| 4 | Italian | metallo | metal |
| 5 | Spanish | metal | metal |
| 6 | Old Spanish | metal | metal |
| 7 | Old French | métal | — |
| 8 | Latin | metallum | metal; precious metals, especially gold or... |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | μέταλλον | A mine, quarry, or salt pit; metal |
| 10 | Ancient Greek | μέταλλευειν | to mine, quarry |