A basic or essential part of something. In science, it means a pure substance made of only one kind of atom, like oxygen or gold.
From Latin 'elementum,' whose exact origin is uncertain, possibly from an old term for 'first principle' or from the first letters of the alphabet. In ancient times, it referred to basic substances like earth, air, fire, and water. Modern science kept the idea of 'basic building blocks' but redefined it in terms of atoms.
The word 'element' has survived a total scientific revolution: it once meant mystical stuff like 'fire' and 'air,' and now means things like hydrogen and iron. Yet we still use it metaphorically the old way—talking about 'the elements' (weather) or 'being in your element.' The word shows how language can bridge myth and modern science without changing its spelling at all.
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