palladium
UK[pəˈleɪ.di.əm]US[pəˈleɪ.di.əm]
n
a rare, silvery-white metallic chemical element (symbol Pd), used especially as a catalyst and in alloys.
n
(historical) a safeguard or source of protection (from the statue of Pallas Athena, believed to protect ancient Troy).
Etymology
the word 'palladium' originates from the latin 'palladium', which referred to a statue of the goddess pallas athena. in greek mythology, this statue was believed to safeguard the city of troy. when the chemical element was discovered in 1803, it was named after the asteroid pallas, which had been discovered the previous year and was itself named after the same goddess. thus, the modern scientific term carries a distant echo of the ancient concept of a protective celestial object, now applied to a protective metal used in industrial catalysis.
Analysis
this is a simplex word. it is a modern latin formation derived directly from the name of the greek goddess pallas (athena), with the latin suffix -ium used to form names of chemical elements.
Examples
palladium is a key component in catalytic converters for automobiles.
the ancient city considered the sacred statue its palladium.
the price of palladium fluctuates based on industrial demand.