Phosphorize
/ˈfɒs.fə.raɪz/noun
To convert into or treat with phosphorus, or to make something phosphorescent.
Did you know?Its root goes back to Greek *phōsphoros*, the name for the morning star Venus—literally the “light-bringer”—so the word carries an ancient celestial glow before it ever entered chemistry.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
phōsphoros (φωσφόρος)
“light-bringing; the morning star, Venus”
Late Latin
Latin
phosphorus
“the morning star; later, a substance that glows or shines”
17th Century
New Latin
phosphorus
“the chemical element phosphorus, named for its light-emitting property”
19th Century
English
phosphorize
“to treat or impregnate with phosphorus; to render phosphorescent”
Explore more surprising origins