Coined in 1834 by Faraday (with Whewell's help) from Greek ēlektron 'amber' + hodos 'way'—the path electricity travels.
A conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an electrolyte, gas, vacuum, or semiconductor.
Coined by Michael Faraday with help from the classicist William Whewell, from Greek ēlektron 'amber' (source of 'electric') + hodos 'way, path.' Faraday needed precise terms for his electrochemistry research and also coined anode, cathode, and ion in the same period. Key roots: *ēlektron (Greek: "amber (which generates static when rubbed)"), *sed- (Proto-Indo-European: "to go").