arsenicum

Forms

arsenicum n (genitive arsenicī); second declension^[1] The OLD heads it arrhenicum, also spelled arrenicum, with the Greek form arsenicon.^[2] Medieval spellings include arsinicum, arcenicum and arzicon.^[3][4]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀρσενικόν (arsenikón), with the older Latin form taken from ἀρρενικόν (arrhenikón).^[2][5][4] The Greek word is of oriental origin, ultimately from Middle Persian *zarnīk (“gold-coloured”), probably through a Semitic intermediary such as Classical Syriac ܙܪܢܝܟܐ (zarnīkā), and was reshaped after ἀρσενικός (arsenikós, “male”).^[6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Celsus mentions auripigmentum, “which the Greeks call arsenicon”, among cleansing remedies, meaning yellow arsenic or orpiment.^[2][8]

Semantic evolution

Pliny the Elder uses arrhenicum for orpiment, and Vitruvius calls the same mineral auripigmentum.^[5][9] Isidore of Seville explains arsenicum as the substance the Latins call auripigmentum from its golden colour, found in Pontus.^[10]

Medieval alchemists and physicians used it for compounds of arsenic and sulphur: yellow orpiment, red realgar, and white sublimed arsenic.^[4][11] Through Old French it gave English arsenic.^[7]

Timeline

• 14–37 AD – Celsus gives arsenicon as the Greek name of orpiment.^[2][3]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses arrhenicum in remedies.^[5][3]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore of Seville describes arsenicum among the colours.^[10][3]
• late 14th century – English arsenic is borrowed from Old French.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. Yellow arsenic, orpiment.^[2][5]
2. (Medieval Latin) Any of the compounds of arsenic: yellow orpiment, red realgar, white arsenic.^[4][11]

Related words

• auripigmentum
• English arsenic

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c d Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
5. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), Etymological Dictionary of Greek, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 10, Leiden; Boston: Brill
7. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
9. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
10. ^ a b Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
11. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press