Aurum
/ˈau̯.rum/noun
Latin for gold.
Did you know?In alchemy, aurum was the ultimate perfected metal, and its symbol Au still carries that ancient prestige into modern chemistry.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
h₂ews-
“to shine, dawn”
Proto-Italic
Italic
ausom
“gold, shining metal”
Old Latin
Latin
ausom / aurum
“gold”
Classical Latin
Latin
aurum
“gold, the precious yellow metal”
Modern English
English
aurum
“a poetic or technical word for gold”