Science & TechnologyGreek → English
Amalgam
/əˈmælɡəm/noun
An alloy of mercury with another metal, and by extension any blend of unlike things.
The Greek roots
μάλαγμα
málagma
emollient, softening poultice
Literally: “a softening”
Follow a root:μάλαγμα1 word
The story of the word
The route is contested. Medieval Latin amalgama most likely came through Arabic al-malgham, itself probably borrowed from Greek malagma, though some scholars argue for a purely Arabic source with no Greek stage. Alchemists wanted the word because mercury softens gold into a workable paste. Dentists filled teeth with silver amalgam for a century and a half before mercury fell out of favour.
- How it travelled
- Ancient Greek → Arabic → Medieval Latin → English
- First recorded
- 15th century
Same family
amalgamateamalgamation
In a sentence
Her style is an amalgam of gospel phrasing and studio funk.