Added 10 October 2026
cation
/ˈkætˌaɪ.ən/ noun
In Latin: none, coined in 1834 Coined: 1834, by William Whewell Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about cation at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A positively charged ion: one that would be attracted to the cathode in electrolysis.
Origin
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek κᾰτῐόν (kătĭón), neuter present participle of κᾰ́τειμῐ (kắteimĭ, “to go down, come down”), from κᾰτᾰ- (kătă-, “downwards, down, cata-”) + εἶμῐ (eîmĭ, “to go, come”). Coined by English polymath William Whewell in 1834 for Michael Faraday, who introduced it later that year. By surface analysis, cat(a)- + ion.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)