Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “saponification” come from?

Saponification comes from French saponification, derived from French sapo and the suffix -ation, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European seyp- meaning to seep or flow.

saponification (English): The hydrolysis of an ester under basic conditions...

Definitions

  1. The hydrolysis of an ester under basic conditions...

Ancestry of “saponification”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchsaponificationsaponification
2French-ation-ation
3Middle French-ation-ation
4Old French-ation-ation
5Latin-ātiō—
6Latin-tiō—
7Latindissertātiō—
8Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
9Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
10Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
11Latincalceusshoe
12Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
13Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →