Argentum
/arˈɡen.tum/noun
The Latin word for silver, retained in scientific and historical English contexts, especially in the chemical symbol Ag.
Did you know?The chemical symbol Ag comes directly from argentum, while the element’s association with the Moon and purity helped make silver central to alchemy and ritual symbolism.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂erǵ-
“To shine or be white; the reconstructed root associated with bright metals.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἄργυρος (argyros)
“Silver; the shining or bright metal.”
Classical Latin
Latin
argentum
“Silver; a precious white metal, and by extension silver wealth or money.”
Middle English
English
argent
“Silver, especially in heraldry or poetic usage, borrowed through Old French from Latin.”
Modern English
English
argentum
“The Latin name for silver, chiefly encountered in chemistry, mineralogy, historical writing, and the symbol Ag.”