Where does “surfactante” come from?

surfactante (Portuguese) comes from English surfactant, from English agent, from Latin agēns, from Latin agō, from Proto-Italic agō, from Proto-Indo-European h₂éǵeti, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- — to drive.

surfactante (Portuguese): surfactant agent that reduces the surface tension of a liquid

Definitions

  1. surfactant agent that reduces the surface tension of a liquid

Ancestry of “surfactante”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsurfactantA surface active agent, or wetting agent, capable...
2EnglishagentOne who exerts power, or has the power to act;...
3Latinagēnsdoing, acting, making
4Latinagōto act, to behave
5Proto-Italicagōdrive; push, impel; do, act
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éǵetito be driving
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂éǵetiEvery word from Proto-Italic agō