Posted by Basil on December 09, 2001 at 02:17:16:
In Reply to: Re: Atoms posted by Martina on December 08, 2001 at 14:54:26:
: : What is the Greek word for atom?
: Atom according to an English-Greek dictionary is "atomo"
: adj. atomic = atomikos
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"atomo" in the Hellenic language means:
a (not) tomo (cut): i.e. one cannot cut (or break into pieces) further. Thus, Democritos' use of the term denoted that an atom(o) was the smallest piece into which any matter could be cut while it still retained its original properties.
Basil