Acetanilid

/ˌæsɪtəˈnɪlɪd/ noun

Definition

An archaic spelling of acetanilide, an organic compound that was historically used as a pain reliever but is now recognized as toxic.

Etymology

From acetic acid + aniline + -id (older suffix form). This represents older chemical nomenclature that has been modernized to 'acetanilide'.

Kelly Says

Acetanilid is a cautionary tale—it was used as a medicine before doctors realized it could damage your kidneys and blood cells, showing how chemistry and medicine had to learn together.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.