argent(o)- Also argenti-.
Silver.
[Latin argentum, silver.]
Argentite is silver sulphide, an important ore of the metal; such silver-bearing minerals are said to be argentiferous. In chemistry, argentic compounds are those containing divalent silver (for example, argentic oxide, AgO); argentous compounds contain monovalent silver (for example, argentous chloride, AgCl); Argentina is the ‘Silver Republic’ in Spanish, named for the silver jewellery worn by native inhabitants at the time of colonization; in heraldry, argent means silvery white, as it can also do in poetic or literary contexts.
Visit Michael Quinion’s World Wide Words site for 2000+ articles on English!
Copyright © Michael Quinion 2008–. All rights reserved. Page last updated 23 September 2008.
Your comments and suggestions on the site are very welcome.