as an element in names of chemicals derived from benzene, from French phène, proposed 1836 by French scientist Auguste Laurent as an alternative name for "benzene" because it had been found in coal tar, a byproduct of the manufacture of "illuminating gas," from Greek phainein "to bring to light" (see phantasm). Related: Phenyl (radical which forms the basis of derivatives of benzene); pheno- (comb. form).