Etymology

amphoteric

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Today it means: Having the characteristics of both an acid and a base, and capable of reacting as either. Full definition →

First used 1832Ancient Greek ἀμφότερος
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The story

  1. Ancient Greek · derived fromἀμφότερος“each of two”
  2. English todayamphoteric

From Ancient Greek ἀμφότερος (amphóteros, “each of two”), from ἄμφω (ámphō, “both”) + -τερος (-teros).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 1832 Having the characteristics of both an acid and a base, and capable of reacting as either.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.