lactose-intolerant
Meaning
Unable to digest lactose properly, typically resulting in symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, or gas after consuming dairy products.
Structure
Usage
Many people who are lactose-intolerant can still enjoy hard cheeses like cheddar or parmesan.
After confirming she was lactose-intolerant, she switched to almond milk in her coffee.
Lactose-intolerant individuals often need to read food labels carefully to avoid hidden dairy ingredients.
Etymology
The term is a modern scientific compound. The first element, 'lactose', originates from Latin 'lac' (milk), combined with the chemical suffix '-ose' used for sugars, literally meaning "milk sugar." The second element, 'intolerant', derives from Latin 'intolerant-', meaning "unable to endure," from 'in-' (not) + 'tolerare' (to bear, endure). The compound word was formed in the 20th century to precisely describe the physiological condition where the body lacks sufficient lactase enzyme, making it incapable of enduring or digesting the milk sugar lactose. It logically connects the specific substance (lactose) with the body's reactive state (intolerance).
Analysis
lact (Latin 'lac, lactis', meaning 'milk', a bound root); ose (French suffix from Latin '-osus', used in chemistry to denote sugars, a suffix); intolerant (Latin 'in-' (not) + 'tolerare' (to bear), an adjective).