sodium-sensitive
|so-di-um-sen-si-tive|
🇺🇸
/ˈsoʊdiəmˈsɛnsɪtɪv/
🇬🇧
/ˈsəʊdɪəmˈsɛnsɪtɪv/
reacts to sodium
Etymology
'sodium-sensitive' is a compound of 'sodium' and 'sensitive'. 'sodium' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'sodium' (coined from 'soda', a name for sodium carbonate), and 'sensitive' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'sensitivus', from 'sentire' meaning 'to feel'.
'sodium' was coined in modern scientific Latin (early 19th century) from the word 'soda' and adopted into English as 'sodium'; 'sensitive' changed from Latin 'sensitivus' to Old French 'sensitif' and then entered Middle and Modern English as 'sensitive', and the compound 'sodium-sensitive' formed in modern English usage to describe responsiveness to sodium.
Initially, 'sodium' referred to soda substances and 'sensitive' meant 'capable of sensation or feeling'; over time the compound 'sodium-sensitive' came to mean 'reactive to sodium (especially in physiological contexts, e.g., blood pressure changes)'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
likely to be affected by sodium (salt), especially referring to physiological responses such as increases in blood pressure in response to sodium intake.
Some individuals are sodium-sensitive and may experience higher blood pressure after eating salty foods.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/04 16:44