lecithin
UK[ˈles.ɪ.θɪn]US[ˈles.ə.θɪn]
n
a fatty substance found in plant and animal tissues, especially egg yolk, and used in food processing and medicine.
Morpheme Breakdown
lecith
in
lecith
yolk
in
chemical substance
Etymology
the word 'lecithin' is a modern scientific coinage derived directly from the greek 'lekithos', meaning 'egg yolk'. this is a fitting source, as the substance was first isolated from egg yolk. the suffix '-in' is a standard chemical nomenclature used to denote a substance, particularly a lipid or protein. thus, the term's literal construction, "yolk substance," transparently reflects its original natural source and chemical nature, even though it is now known to be present in many other biological tissues.
Analysis
Structure: lecith (yolk) + in (chemical substance)
lecith - from greek 'lekithos', meaning 'egg yolk'. in - a suffix used in chemistry to form names of substances, especially neutral chemical compounds, glycerides, proteins, and lipids.
Examples
lecithin is commonly used as an emulsifier in chocolate.
soybean lecithin is a popular dietary supplement.
the recipe calls for lecithin to stabilize the mixture.