  The word oxygen is Greek in origin, composed of 'oxy-': sharp, acid … (as in oxymoron, which literally means 'sharp-dull'), and '-gen': something that produces (as in pyrogen: that which makes fire, pathogen: that which makes disease, hydrogen: that which makes water).rom wikipedia: Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys) (acid, literally sharp, referring to the sour taste of acids) and -γενής (-genēs) (pro … ducer, literally begetter), because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition.