A substance that opposes or inhibits the action of steapsin, an enzyme that breaks down fats in digestion.
From anti- (against) + steapsin (from Greek stear, fat + -psin, enzyme suffix). This technical biochemical term emerged in the early 20th century as scientists studied enzyme inhibitors.
Antisteapsin is one of hundreds of 'anti-enzyme' compounds discovered in the 1900s—biochemists loved naming everything they found that blocked digestion! It reflects how science used the anti- prefix to map out the body's chemical arms race.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.