αλευρόγαια

• ἀλευρόγαια (aleurógaia) — polytonic

Of late 18th–early 19th c. as a neologism from άλευρον (álevron, “flour”) +‎ γαία (gaía, “earth”), in reference to the flour-like consistency of this alkaline earth oxide. The term was preferred by scholars of the Greek Enlightenment, who were reluctant to adopt μαγνησία (magnisía), a calque of Late Latin magnesia, due to confusion with the region name Μαγνησία (Magnisía).

• IPA^(key): /aleˈvɾoʝea/
• Hyphenation: α‧λευ‧ρό‧γαι‧α

αλευρόγαια • (alevrógaia) f (uncountable) (Katharevousa or obsolete)

1. (inorganic chemistry) magnesium oxide, magnesia, a white powder (MgO) which is an ore of magnesium

   Synonyms: οξείδιο του μαγνησίου (oxeídio tou magnisíou) (current), μαγνησία (magnisía) (dated)

   • 1808, Κωνσταντίνος Κούμας, “Περὶ Γαιῶν καὶ Καλίων”, in Χημείας Ἐπιτομή, page 52:

     εὑρίσκεται συχνάκις ἡ ἀλευρόγαια καὶ κομμάτια μικρὰ, λευκὰ, ἐλαφρὰ, καὶ εὔτριπτα, καὶ ὡς κόνις ἐλαφρὰ, καὶ λευκή

     heurísketai sukhnákis hē aleurógaia kaì kommátia mikrà, leukà, elaphrà, kaì eútripta, kaì hōs kónis elaphrà, kaì leukḗ

     magnesium oxide is most often found as small, white, low density, easily pulverised pieces and as a low density white powder