cement etymology

Etymology

The word "cement" comes from the Latin word "caementum," which refers to broken stone or rubble used in construction.

Meaning

Cement is a binder, a substance that hardens and adheres to other materials, creating a solid mass. It is used in various construction applications, including:

  • Building roads and bridges
  • Pouring foundations
  • Making concrete products like blocks and pavers

Origin

The use of cement as a building material has a long history:

  • Ancient Egypt: Egyptians used a mixture of mud, sand, and straw as a cement-like material.
  • Roman Empire: The Romans developed a type of cement called "opus caementicium," made from volcanic ash (pozzolana) and lime. This cement was remarkably durable, and many Roman structures still stand today.
  • Medieval and Renaissance Periods: Cement usage declined in Europe during these periods, but it was used in limited applications in the construction of churches and castles.
  • 18th and 19th Centuries: The invention of Portland cement in 1824 revolutionized the construction industry. Portland cement is made from a mixture of limestone, clay, and other minerals, and it is the most commonly used cement today.

Today, cement is an essential material in modern construction, providing strength, durability, and versatility to infrastructure and buildings worldwide.

cement relate terms

  • cementation

    Etymology Late Latin caementatio Latin caementum rubble broken stones Meaning

  • cement

    Etymology The word cement comes from the Latin word caementum which refers to broken

  • abscise

    Etymology Origin Latin abscidere cut off Break down ab off away from scindere

  • avicide

    Etymology avi Latin bird cide Latin killer Meaning A substance or agent that

  • biocide

    Etymology and Meaning The term biocide is derived from two Greek roots bio βίο

  • caesarian

    Etymology and Meaning The term caesarian originates from the Latin word caesarius w

  • caesura

    Etymology Latin caesūra cutting a pause Ultimately from Greek κεασις keasis

  • cement

    Etymology The word cement comes from the Latin word caementum which refers to broken

  • chisel

    Etymology The word chisel is derived from the Late Latin word cisellus which is the

  • circumcision

    Etymology Latin circumcisio from circumcidere to cut around Proto Indo European root

  • concise

    Concise Etymology From Latin concisus past participle of concidere meaning to

  • decide

    Etymology Decide derived from the Latin verb decidere which means to cut off to

  • decision

    Etymology Late Middle English from Anglo Norman French descisioun from Latin decisio

  • excise

    Etymology Middle English excise from Middle French excise from Latin excisus past p

  • excision

    Etymology The word excision originates from the Latin word excīdere meaning to cu

  • felicide

    Etymology Feli from Latin felis cat cide from Latin cida killer Meanin

  • filicide

    Etymology Latin filius son cide killing Meaning The act of killing one

  • floricide

    Etymology Floricide is a portmanteau of the Latin words flos flower and caedere t

  • fungicide

    Etymology and Meaning Fungicide is a portmanteau of two Latin words Fungus meaning

  • gallinicide

    Etymology Origin Late 19th century From New Latin gallinicida from Latin gallina he

  • germicide

    Etymology The word germicide is derived from two Latin words Germ Meaning seed or

  • herbicide

    Etymology The word herbicide is derived from two Latin words herba meaning herb

  • homicide

    Etymology Derived from the Latin words homo man and caedere to kill Originally

  • incise

    Etymology The word incise originates from the Latin word incidere which means to c

  • incision

    Etymology From Latin incīsus past participle of incīdere to cut into From in

  • incisor

    Etymology of Incisor The word incisor is derived from the Latin word incisus whic

  • infanticide

    Etymology Latin infans infant cide act of killing Meaning Infanticide re

  • legicide

    Etymology and Meaning The term legicide comes from Latin Legis noun meaning law

  • liberticide

    Etymology The word liberticide is derived from the Latin words liber meaning free

  • libricide

    Etymology The term libricide is derived from Latin liber book Latin cide

  • matricide

    Etymology From Latin mātrīcīdium from mātrīcīda from mātrī genitive of māt

  • patricide

    Etymology Patri Latin Father cide Latin Killing Meaning The killing of one s

  • pesticide

    Etymology The word pesticide is derived from Latin Pest from Latin pestis meanin

  • precise

    Precise Etymology Etymology refers to the origin and development of words Precise etymol

  • precision

    Etymology The word precision derives from the Latin word praecisio which means a cu

  • scissors

    Etymology The word scissors is derived from the Old French word ciseor pair of scis

  • senicide

    Etymology The word senicide is derived from Latin senex genitive senis meanin

  • suicide

    Etymology The word suicide is derived from the Latin roots sui self caedere to

  • Portland

    Etymology The name Portland has multiple origins In Oregon USA In 1843 a coin t

  • putty

    Etymology Putty derives from the Latin word pozzolana which was a natural cement made

  • rubber

    Etymology The word rubber comes from the 18th century English word rub or rubber w

  • lutose

    Etymology French luteuse meaning muddy or swampy Meaning A nickname for th

  • quarry

    Etymology The word quarry comes from the Old French word carriere which in turn is der

  • lime

    Etymology and Origin The word lime has an intriguing etymological trail Old English

  • seal

    Etymology of Seal The word seal derives from the Old English word seolh which orig

  • concrete

    Etymology The word concrete comes from the Latin concretus meaning grown together

  • fasten

    Etymology Middle English fastnen from Old English fæstnian to make firm or secure

  • surface

    Etymology The word surface is derived from the Old French word sorface which itself