phlogiston
/flə(ʊ)ˈd͡ʒɪstɒn/ noun
Forms phlogistons
- noun (chemistry, historical) The hypothetical fiery principle formerly assumed to be a necessary constituent of combustible bodies and to be given up by them in burning.
Etymology
From New Latin phlogiston, coined by Georg Ernst Stahl in 1702, from Ancient Greek φλογιστόν (phlogistón), neuter of φλογιστός (phlogistós, “burnt up, inflammable”), from φλογίζω (phlogízō, “to set fire to”), from φλόξ (phlóx, “flame”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun The hypothetical principle of fire, or inflammability, regarded by Stahl as a chemical element.
Etymology [NL., fr. Gr. Phlox.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “phlogiston”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details