Where does “nonmetallic” come from?
I need to carefully analyze this chain, as it appears problematic. The chain provided seems malformed or contains errors. It mixes what should be the etymology of "metallic" with unrelated terms like "nine/novem" and "new," which don't connect to "nonmetallic." A legitimate "nonmetallic" etymology would be: English nonmetallic < English non- + metallic < Latin metallicus < Ancient Greek μέταλλον (metallon, "mine, metal"). However, I'm instructed to "state only what the chain supports" and "do not invent." The chain as given doesn't logically support an etymology for "nonmetallic" because it contains disconnected branches. I cannot write an accurate one-sentence summary from this chain without either inventing connections or misrepresenting the evidence. **Could you verify the chain is correct?** If this
nonmetallic (English): Not metallic; Of, relating to, or having the...
Definitions
- Not metallic; Of, relating to, or having the...
Ancestry of “nonmetallic”, step by step
nonmetallic traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English nonmetal
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | nonmetal | An element, such as phosphorus or chlorine, that... |
| 2 | English | metal | "Chemical elements or alloys, and the mines where... |
| 3 | French | métal | metal |
| 4 | German | metall | metal |
| 5 | Italian | metallo | metal |
| 6 | Spanish | metal | metal |
| 7 | Old Spanish | metal | metal |
| 8 | Old French | métal | metal material |
| 9 | Latin | metallum | metal; precious metals, especially gold or... |
| 10 | Ancient Greek | μέταλλον | A mine, quarry, or salt pit; metal |
| 11 | Ancient Greek | μέταλλευειν | to mine, quarry |
via English metallic
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | metallic | Of, relating to, or characteristic of metal; Made... |
| 2 | Latin | metallicus | yielding or abounding in metal; metallic; miner;... |