n. /ahr"seuh nik, ahrs"nik/ ; adj. /ahr sen"ik/ , n.
1. a grayish-white element having a metallic luster, vaporizing when heated, and forming poisonous compounds. Symbol: As; at. wt.: 74.92; at. no.: 33.
2. See arsenic trioxide .
3. a mineral, the native element, occurring in white or gray masses.
adj. arsenic
4. of or containing arsenic, esp. in the pentavalent state.
[ 1350-1400; ME arsenicum arsenikón orpiment, n. use of neut. of arsenikós virile ( ársen male, strong + -ikos -IC), prob. alter. of Oriental word (perh. *arznig, metathetic var. of Syriac zarnig ) by folk etym. ]