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deuterium (n.)
1933, coined by U.S. chemist Harold C. Urey, with Modern Latin ending + Greek deuterion, neuter of deuterios "having second place," from deuteros "next, second," a word of uncertain origin. According to some sources from duo "two" (from PIE root *dwo- "two"), but according to Watkins the ground sense is "missing" and the Greek word is from PIE from *deu-tero-, suffixed form of *deu- (1) "to lack, be wanting." But Beekes doubts even this. So called because it is twice the mass of hydrogen.
updated on May 19, 2017
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Dictionary entries near deuterium
detrude
*deu-
deuce
*deuk-
deus
deuterium
deutero-
deuterogamy
Deuteronomy
Deutsch
deva