argentiferous

adjective

ar·​gen·​tif·​er·​ous ˌär-jən-ˈti-f(ə-)rəs How to pronounce argentiferous (audio)
: containing silver

Did you know?

If you learned basic chemistry, you might recall that the symbol for silver, "Ag," reflects the Latin name for the element, "argentum." That Latin term puts the luster in "argentiferous" and is also an ancestor of "argent," a word that was once used to refer to the metal silver and now means "the heraldic color silver or white." The country of Argentina owes its name to "argentum," as well.

Word History

First Known Use

1734, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of argentiferous was in 1734

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Dictionary Entries Near argentiferous

Cite this Entry

“Argentiferous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/argentiferous. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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