Talk:Electric charge: Difference between revisions

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imported>John R. Brews
(→‎Coinage of electric, electrical: online etymology dictionary)
imported>Anthony.Sebastian
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A number of sources attribute the coining of the word "electric" as referring to electrical phenomena to William Gilbert. For example, [http://books.google.com/books?id=zWwLE0LpnLwC&pg=PA11#v=onepage&q&f=false Weinberg].  A more elaborate discussion is given in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology_of_electricity Wikipedia] where a distinction is made between the introduction of ''electricus'' by Gilbert in his Latin text, and the use of ''electric'' in English by Francis Bacon. That is also the approach of the [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=electric online etymology dictionary]. It appears from Anthony's text that the Webster's Third New International Dictionary has an attribution for [http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com electric] that pre-dates Gilbert. I can't access this link, so I don't know just what Webster's dictionary means. How is this to be handled here? [[User:John R. Brews|John R. Brews]] 22:51, 27 July 2011 (UTC)
A number of sources attribute the coining of the word "electric" as referring to electrical phenomena to William Gilbert. For example, [http://books.google.com/books?id=zWwLE0LpnLwC&pg=PA11#v=onepage&q&f=false Weinberg].  A more elaborate discussion is given in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology_of_electricity Wikipedia] where a distinction is made between the introduction of ''electricus'' by Gilbert in his Latin text, and the use of ''electric'' in English by Francis Bacon. That is also the approach of the [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=electric online etymology dictionary]. It appears from Anthony's text that the Webster's Third New International Dictionary has an attribution for [http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com electric] that pre-dates Gilbert. I can't access this link, so I don't know just what Webster's dictionary means. How is this to be handled here? [[User:John R. Brews|John R. Brews]] 22:51, 27 July 2011 (UTC)
:The Oxford English Dictionary, third edition, March 2008; online version June 2011, under the entry ‘electric’, states “apparently earliest in W. Gilbert De magnete (1600)”, and also states “compare slightly earlier ‘electrical’.
:Of course, Gilbert wrote in Latin, and if he actually used the word 'electric' it certainly wasn't the first Latin work in which 'electric' was used, as a Google Books search for 'electric' in books before 1600 reveals.
:Re Wikipedia:  I note the following first two quotes for 'electric' in the OED:
::a1626     F. Bacon Physiol. Remains in  Baconiana (1679) 149  Crystal, Lapis Specularis, Glass, and other such Electric Bodies, if burnt, or scorch'd, draw not.
::1646     Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica  ii. iv. 78  By Electrick bodies, I conceive‥such as conveniently placed unto their objects attract all bodies palpable.
:Somewhat confusing, eh?  [[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 03:14, 28 July 2011 (UTC)

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 Definition:  A positive or negative property of matter that occurs as integral multiples of an elementary charge unit, and causes mutual repulsion of like-charged particles and mutual attraction of oppositely charged particles. [d] [e]
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Start of Electric charge

In the Electricity article, electricity is defined in terms of electric charge, and electric charge is wiki-linked. Therefore, article on electric charge needed. Hope others will contribute, especially physicists, chemists, and historians of science. —Anthony.Sebastian 02:16, 6 July 2011 (UTC)

Coinage of electric, electrical

A number of sources attribute the coining of the word "electric" as referring to electrical phenomena to William Gilbert. For example, Weinberg. A more elaborate discussion is given in Wikipedia where a distinction is made between the introduction of electricus by Gilbert in his Latin text, and the use of electric in English by Francis Bacon. That is also the approach of the online etymology dictionary. It appears from Anthony's text that the Webster's Third New International Dictionary has an attribution for electric that pre-dates Gilbert. I can't access this link, so I don't know just what Webster's dictionary means. How is this to be handled here? John R. Brews 22:51, 27 July 2011 (UTC)

The Oxford English Dictionary, third edition, March 2008; online version June 2011, under the entry ‘electric’, states “apparently earliest in W. Gilbert De magnete (1600)”, and also states “compare slightly earlier ‘electrical’.
Of course, Gilbert wrote in Latin, and if he actually used the word 'electric' it certainly wasn't the first Latin work in which 'electric' was used, as a Google Books search for 'electric' in books before 1600 reveals.
Re Wikipedia: I note the following first two quotes for 'electric' in the OED:
a1626 F. Bacon Physiol. Remains in Baconiana (1679) 149 Crystal, Lapis Specularis, Glass, and other such Electric Bodies, if burnt, or scorch'd, draw not.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica ii. iv. 78 By Electrick bodies, I conceive‥such as conveniently placed unto their objects attract all bodies palpable.
Somewhat confusing, eh? Anthony.Sebastian 03:14, 28 July 2011 (UTC)
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