anode (English)

Where does "anode" come from?

The word 'anode' was coined in 1834 by polymath William Whewell for the scientist Michael Faraday to describe the path of electricity. It is derived from the Ancient Greek 'anodos', combining 'ana-' for 'up' or 'forward' with 'hodos' for 'way' or 'path'. This elegant etymology reflects its function as the electrode where current flows into a device.

Full etymology tree

• anode (English), 'An electrode, of a cell or other electrically polarized device, through which a positive current of electricity flows inwards (and thus, electrons flow outwards). It can have either a positive or a negative voltage with respect to cathode of the same polarized device (depending on whether the device is a load or a source, respectively).'
  • borrowed ánodos (New Greek)
    • compound ana- (Ancient Greek)
    • compound hodós (Ancient Greek)

Direct ancestors

• sed- (Proto-Indo-European)
• ἀνα- (Ancient Greek)
• an- (English)
• -ode (English)

Updated June 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris