Volatile
/ˈvɒl.ɪ.taɪl/noun
Evaporating rapidly; easily excited or agitated.
Did you know?In alchemical traditions, volatile substances were believed to possess magical properties, transforming from solid to gas, akin to the soul's ascent after death.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wel-
“to fly, to move quickly.”
Latin
Latin
volatilis
“capable of flight; fleeting.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
volatilis
“evaporating; unstable.”
Middle French
Middle French
volatile
“flying, fleeting.”
Modern English
English
volatile
“easily evaporated at normal temperatures; unstable.”