Xenon
/ˈzɛn.ɒn/noun
A chemical element that is a colorless, odorless noble gas used in lighting and specialized applications.
Did you know?Xenon was named from the Greek ξένον (xénon), the neuter form of ξένος (xénos), meaning “stranger” or “guest,” so even its name carries the eerie vibe of an outsider.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ξένος (xénos)
“stranger, guest, foreigner”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ξένον (xénon)
“a stranger; neuter form used in naming”
1898
English
xenon
“newly discovered chemical element, a noble gas in air”
Modern English
English
xenon
“the chemical element with atomic number 54”
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