Etymology

molecule

mol·e·cule
M3O1L1E1C3U1L1E1

Today it means: The smallest particle of a specific element or compound that retains the chemical properties of that element or compound; two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds. Full definition →

French molécule ← New Latin mōlēcula ← Latin mōlēs
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The story

  1. Latinmōlēs
  2. New Latinmōlēcula
  3. Frenchmolécule
  4. English todaymolecule

Borrowed from French molécule, from New Latin molecula (“a molecule”), diminutive of Latin moles (“a mass”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.