bin-, prefix
treated as a euphonic form of bi- prefix2, used before vowels. Not found in L.: it seems to have originated in Fr. with the word binocle, which was probably formed from L. bīnī two together, a pair of (boves bini a pair of oxen yoked together). From binocle, binocular, bin- has been extended in English to other words, esp. chemical compounds (see bi- prefix2 III) as binacetate, biniodide, binoxalate, binoxide (for which Fr. has bioxyde). The phonetic analogy of a-, an, co- con-, has probably influenced this Eng. use.
| 1808 Wollaston in Phil. Trans. XCVIII. 100 The common binoxalate, or salt of sorrel. 1810 Henry Elem. Chem. (1826) II. 107 Binacetate of copper. c 1860 Faraday Forces Nat. iii. 3. 195 note, Binoxide of nitrogen. c 1865 J. Wylde in Circ. Sc. I. 375/1 The proto-, and biniodide. |