DictionaryRoot: -ium
Latin
-ium
an ending used to name elements and substances
Forms
- -ium
Origin
Scientific naming reused Latin -ium, an ending in many nouns, rather than inheriting an ancient word meaning “chemical element.”
Note
The ending does not mean “metal”: some element names in -ium name nonmetals.
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noun
consortium
kun-SOR-shee-um/kənˈsɔːrʃiəm/
A group of organizations working together for a shared purpose.
Etymology
Sharing a lot or fortune underlies the Latin sense of fellowship and participation. A consortium applies that partnership idea to organizations joining in a common undertaking.