Glowing or shining with light, especially in the dark; relating to or containing the chemical element phosphorus.
From Greek 'phosphoros' meaning 'light-bearing,' combining 'phos' (light) and 'phoros' (bearing/carrying). The name perfectly captures the element's property of glowing in darkness.
When medieval alchemists discovered phosphorus glowing in the dark from decomposing bones, they thought they'd found something magical—literally 'light-carrying'—and when it was isolated, they kept that ancient Greek name!
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