Arsenic

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈɑː(ɹ).sÉ™.nɪk/
• US enPR: ärʹsÉ™n-Ä­k, IPA: /ˈɑɹsÉ™nɪk/

• UK IPA: /ɑː(ɹ)ˈsÉ›nɪk/
• US enPR: är-sÄ•nʹĭk, IPA: /ɑɹˈsÉ›nɪk/

Alternative forms

• arsenick obsolete

Origin

From Middle English arsenik, from Middle French arsenic, from Latin arsenicum, from Ancient Greek ἀρσενικόν ("yellow arsenic") (influenced by ἀρσενικός ("potent, virile")), from (compare Classical Syriac ܙܪܢܝܟܐ, Aramaic 𐡆𐡓𐡍𐡉𐡊𐡀), from Middle Iranian *zarnīk (compare Persian زرنی (zarnī, "arsenic")), from Old Iranian *zarniya-ka- (compare Avestan 𐬰𐬀𐬭𐬀𐬥𐬌𐬌𐬀 (zaraniia-, "golden"), Old Persian 𐎭𐎼𐎴𐎡𐎹 (daraniya-, "gold"), Sanskrit हिरण्य (híraṇya, "gold"), Persian زر (zar, "gold")), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃i. More at yellow.

Full definition of arsenic

Noun

1. A nonmetallic chemical element (symbol As) with an atomic number of 33.
2. Arsenic trioxide.

Derived terms

Related terms

Adjective

1. Of, or containing arsenic with a valence of 5.

Derived terms

• arsenic anhydride
• sulfarsenic acid, sulpharsenic acid
• sulfoarsenic acid, sulphoarsenic acid

Anagrams

• arcsine
• carnies