Word Study
argon
CIDE DICTIONARY
argon, n. [NL., fr. Gr. , neut. of inactive; priv. + work.].
A colorless, odorless gas occurring in the air (of which it constitutes 0.93 per cent by volume), in volcanic gases, etc.; -- so named on account of its inertness by Rayleigh and Ramsay, who prepared and examined it in 1894-95. Symbol, A ; at. wt., 39.9. Argon is condensible to a colorless liquid boiling at -186.1Webster 1913 Suppl.]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
argon, n. Chem. an inert gaseous element, of the noble gas group and forming almost 1% of the earth's atmosphere.
Usage
Symb.: Ar.
Etymology
Gk, neut. of argos idle f. a- not + ergon work
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