1834, from Latinized form of Greek kation "going down," neuter present participle of katienai "to go down," from kata "down" (see cata-) + ienai "to go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go"). Proposed by the Rev. William Whewell, English polymath, and published by English physicist Michael Faraday. Compare ion.
catholic
Catholic
Catholicism
catholicity
Catiline
cation
catkin
cat-lap
catling
cat-nap
catnip