Selenic
/səˈliːnɪk/noun
Relating to the moon or lunar chemistry.
Did you know?Selenic comes from Greek Selēnē, the Moon goddess, and survives in chemistry as a name for compounds containing selenium in its higher oxidation state, but its deeper root is the same divine lunar name that gave English *selenography*.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Selḗnē (Σελήνη)
“the Moon; the Moon goddess”
Late Greek
Greek
selēnikós (σεληνικός)
“of or relating to the Moon”
Medieval Latin
Latin
selenicus
“lunar; moon-related”
17th Century
English
selenic
“pertaining to the Moon or to selenium compounds”
Modern English
English
selenic
“relating to the Moon or to selenium chemistry”
Explore more surprising origins