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elastic [elastic 词源字典]: elastic: [17] Greek elaúnein meant ‘drive’. From it was derived the late Greek adjective elastikós, which had the sense ‘driving, propelling’. Its Latin version elasticus was used by the French scientist Jean Pecquet (1622–74) in describing the expansive properties of gases, and that is the sense in which it was originally adopted into English. Its transference to the wider meaning ‘returning to a former state after contracting’ took place towards the end of the 17th century.
[elastic etymology, elastic origin, 英语词源]
adsorb (v.): 1882, transitive (intransitive use attested from 1919), back-formation from adsorption "condensation of gases on the surfaces of solids" (1882), coined in German from ad- + -sorption, abstracted from absorption. See absorb. Related: Adsorbent; adsorption.
aero-: word-forming element meaning "air, atmosphere; aircraft; gases," from Greek aero-, comb. form of aer (genitive aeros) "air, lower atmosphere" (see air (n.1)).
air (n.1): c. 1300, "invisible gases that make up the atmosphere," from Old French air "atmosphere, breeze, weather" (12c.), from Latin aerem (nominative aer) "air, lower atmosphere, sky," from Greek aer (genitive aeros) "air" (related to aenai "to blow, breathe"), which is of unknown origin, possibly from a base *awer- and thus related to aeirein "to raise" and arteria "windpipe, artery" (see aorta) on notion of "lifting, that which rises." In Homer mostly "thick air, mist;" later "air" as one of the four elements.

Words for "air" in Indo-European languages tend to be associated with wind, brightness, sky. In English, air replaced native lyft, luft (see loft (n.)). To be in the air "in general awareness" is from 1875; up in the air "uncertain, doubtful" is from 1752. To build castles in the air is from 1590s (in 17c. English had airmonger "one preoccupied with visionary projects"). Broadcasting sense (as in on the air) first recorded 1927. To give (someone) the air "dismiss" is from 1900. Air pollution is attested by 1870.
elastic (adj.): 1650s, formerly also elastick, coined in French (1650s) as a scientific term to describe gases, from Modern Latin elasticus, from Greek elastos "ductile, flexible," related to elaunein "to strike, beat out," which is of uncertain origin; according to Watkins from an extended form of the PIE base *ele- "to go." Applied to solids from 1670s. Figurative use by 1859. The noun meaning "piece of elastic material," originally a cord or string woven with rubber, is from 1847, American English.
inert (adj.): 1640s, from French inerte (16c.) or directly from Latin inertem (nominative iners) "unskilled, inactive, helpless, sluggish, worthless," from in- "without" + ars (genitive artis) "skill" (see art (n.)). Originally of matter; specifically of gases from 1885. Of persons or creatures, from 1774.
radon (n.): heaviest gaseous element, 1918, from German Radon, from radium (q.v.) + -on suffix of inert gases. The element was identified in radioactive decay of radium. Alternative name niton (from Latin nitens "shining") gained currency in France and Germany.
rarefaction (n.): c. 1600, from Middle French raréfaction or directly from Medieval Latin rarefactionem (nominative rarefactio), noun of action from past participle stem of Latin rarefacere (see rarefy). Used chiefly in reference to gases.
volumetric (adj.): 1854, from volumeter "instrument for measuring the volume of liquids and gases" (1827) + -ic. Related: Volumetrical (1853).
aerometer: "An instrument or apparatus for measuring the density of air or other gases", Late 17th cent.; earliest use found in Henry Stubbe (1632–1676), author and physician. From aero- + -meter.
cryopump: "A vacuum pump in which molecules of gases and vapours are trapped by causing them to condense on a surface maintained at a very low temperature", 1950s; earliest use found in Compressed Air Magazine. From cryo- + pump.
aeromechanics: "The branch of mechanics concerned with the motion of air and other gases and of objects moving in them; the fluid mechanics of gases", Early 20th cent..
fumarole: "An opening in or near a volcano, through which hot sulphurous gases emerge", Early 19th century: from obsolete Italian fumaruolo, from late Latin fumariolum 'vent, hole for smoke', a diminutive based on Latin fumus 'smoke'.