Etymology of the English word atom
the English word
atomderived from the Latin word
atomus (atom, ultimate component of matter, particle incapable of being divided; indivisible, atomic, that cannot be cut)
derived from the Greek word
atomos, ἄτομος (uncut; indivisible (an 'atom' of time))
derived from the Greek word
temnein, τέμνω (to cut)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*tem-using the Greek prefix
a-, ἀ- (an- not, without)
Date
The earliest known usage of atom in English dates from the 16th century.
Derivations in English
antiatom,
atomic,
atomize,
heteroatom,
subatomCognates
Dutch
atoom, French
atome, German
Atom, Icelandic
atóm, Italian
atomo, Latin
atomus, Lithuanian
atomas, Polish
atom, Russian
aтoм, Swedish
atomUsage
Word found in Modern English
