saliva
UK[səˈlaɪvə]US[səˈlaɪvə]
n
the liquid produced in your mouth that helps you to swallow food
Etymology
the word 'saliva' entered english in the late 14th century, borrowed directly from latin 'salīva', which meant 'spittle'. the latin term is of uncertain origin, though some scholars have suggested a possible connection to proto-indo-european roots related to moisture or flowing, such as sel- meaning 'to take liquid'. however, this link is not definitive. the word's journey is straightforward: it was adopted from latin into middle english, retaining its core meaning for the watery secretion in the mouth, a sense it has held consistently to the present day.
Analysis
this word is a simplex loanword from latin. it does not contain separable morphemes within its modern english spelling.
Examples
the smell of delicious food can make your mouth produce more saliva.
saliva contains enzymes that begin the process of digesting food.
he wiped the saliva from the baby's chin.