adulterant
|a-dul-ter-ant|
C1
/əˈdʌltərənt/
substance reducing quality
Etymology
Etymology Information
'adulterant' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'adulterare,' where 'ad-' meant 'to' and 'alterare' meant 'to change or alter.'
Historical Evolution
'adulterare' transformed into the French word 'adulterer,' and eventually became the modern English word 'adulterant' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to change or alter something,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a substance that reduces quality or purity.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a substance that is added to another substance, reducing its quality or purity.
The presence of an adulterant in the food was detected during the inspection.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45