orichalcum

== English == === Etymology === Learned borrowing from Latin orichalcum, itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek ὀρείχαλκος (oreíkhalkos), from dative singular of ὄρος (óros, “mountain”) + χαλκός (khalkós, “copper”). === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ɒɹɪˈkælkəm/ === Noun === orichalcum (uncountable) A valuable yellow metal known to the Ancient Greeks and Romans; now sometimes interpreted as referring to a natural alloy of gold and copper, and sometimes treated as a mythical substance. ==== Alternative forms ==== aurichalchum, aurichalcum, orichalc, orichalch, orichalchum == Latin == === Alternative forms === aurichalcum === Etymology === Borrowed from Ancient Greek ὀρείχαλκος (oreíkhalkos). Initially borrowed with a heavily distorted first element as aurichalcum, then partially restored to the Greek. === Pronunciation === (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ɔ.rɪˈkʰaɫ.kũː] (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [o.riˈkal.kum] === Noun === orichalcum n (genitive orichalcī); second declension brass ==== Usage notes ==== In the 21st century it is thought likely that this metal name had always originally referred to a copper-zinc alloy, that is, to brass. ==== Declension ==== Second-declension noun (neuter), singular only. ==== Derived terms ==== orichalcus ==== Descendants ==== → English: orichalcum → French: orichalque → Italian: oricalco === Adjective === orichalcum inflection of orichalcus: nominative/accusative/vocative neuter singular accusative masculine singular === References === “orichalcum”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press “orichalcum”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers “orichalcum”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette. “orichalcum”, in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898), Harper’s Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers “orichalcum”, in William Smith et al., editor (1890), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin