An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

An atom that has lost or gained one or more electrons and has become electrically charged as the result.

Etymology (EN): Ion (introduced in 1834 by E. physicist and chemist Michael Faraday), from Gk ion " going," neut. pr.p. of ienai “to go,” from PIE base *ei- “to go, to walk,” eimi “I go;” cf. Pers. ây-, â- present stem of âmadan “to come;” O.Pers. aitiy “goes;” Av. ay- “to go, to come,” aēiti “goes;” Skt. e- “to come near,” eti “arrival;” L. ire “to go;” Goth. iddja “went,” Lith. eiti “to go;” Rus. idti “to go.”

Etymology (PE): Yon, from Fr., from Gk., as above.