Oxygen
/ˈɒk.sɪ.dʒən/noun
A chemical element that is essential for respiration and combustion.
Did you know?The name oxygen was created in 1777 by Antoine Lavoisier from Greek roots because he mistakenly believed the element was necessary to form all acids.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
oxys
“sharp, pointed, sour”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-genes
“born of, producing”
1777
French
oxygène
“a proposed element thought to generate acids”
Late 18th Century
English
oxygen
“the chemical element now known to be essential for respiration and combustion”
Modern English
English
oxygen
“the element with atomic number 8”