Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “antioxidant” come from?

Antioxidant derives from French oxidant combined with the prefix anti-, from Ancient Greek ἀντί meaning "against," tracing to Proto-Indo-European h₂énti.

antioxidant (English): Any substance that acts to slow or prevent the...

Definitions

  1. Any substance that acts to slow or prevent the...

Ancestry of “antioxidant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishoxidantan oxidizing agent
2Frenchoxydantpresent participle of oxyder; oxidant
3Frenchoxyderto oxidise
4Frenchoxydeoxide; first-person singular present indicative...
5Frenchacideacid, acidic, sour, tart; acid, acidic; acid
6Latinacidussour, tart, acid, bitter; harsh, grating, rough,...
7Latinaceō—
8Proto-Italicakēōbe sharp-tasting, be sour
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eḱ-éh₁-ye-ti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eḱ-sharp

Words derived from “antioxidant”

  • nonantioxidant
  • superantioxidant
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱ- →