what does the greek word for atoms mean
Atom The idea that matter is made up of discrete units is a very old idea, appearing in many ancient cultures such as Greece and India. The word "atom" (Greek: ἄτομος; atomos), meaning "uncuttable", was coined by the ancient Greek philosophers Leucippus and his pupil Democritus (c. 460 – c. 370 BC).[1][2][3][4] Democritus taught that atoms were infinite in number, uncreated, and eternal, and that the qualities of an object result from the kind of atoms that compose it.[2][3][4] Democritus's atomism was refined and elaborated by the later philosopher Epicurus (341 – 270 BC).[3][4] During the Early Middle Ages, atomism was mostly forgotten in western Europe, but survived among some groups of Islamic philosophers.[3] During the twelfth century, atomism became known again in western Europe through references to it in the newly-rediscovered writings of Aristotle.[3]