contaminants
|con-tam-i-nants|
B2
/kənˈtæmɪnənts/
(contaminant)
impurity
Etymology
Etymology Information
'contaminant' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'contaminare,' where 'con-' meant 'together' and 'tangere' meant 'to touch.'
Historical Evolution
'contaminare' transformed into the French word 'contaminer,' and eventually became the modern English word 'contaminant' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to touch together,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'substances that make something impure.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
substances that make something impure or unclean by contact or mixture.
The water was tested for contaminants before it was deemed safe to drink.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/22 07:55