arsenic
arsenic
noun ar-suh-NEEK Rare
Origin: Greek arsenikon (yellow orpiment)
Usage Note
Arsenic is a toxic metalloid element (symbol As) historically used as a poison and in medicine. In French it is masculine: l'arsenic. The adjective arsenical or arsénieux appears in chemistry contexts. It features prominently in crime fiction as the classic undetectable poison.
Examples
"L'arsenic était utilisé comme poison au Moyen Âge."
Natural Translation
Arsenic was used as a poison in the Middle Ages.
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