thionamide
|θaɪ-ə-næ-maɪd|
🇺🇸
/ˌθaɪ.oʊˈnæmaɪd/
🇬🇧
/ˌθaɪəˈnæmaɪd/
sulfur-substituted amide; antithyroid drug class
Etymology
'thionamide' originates from a combination of Greek-derived 'thio-' and Neo-Latin/French 'amide'; specifically the prefix 'thio-' comes from Greek 'theíon', where 'theíon' meant 'sulfur', and 'amide' comes via Neo-Latin/French 'amide' (from 'ammonia').
'thionamide' was formed in modern chemical nomenclature (19th century onward) by combining the established chemical prefix 'thio-' with 'amide' to denote an amide with sulfur substituted for oxygen; this compound-name formation entered scientific English usage and gave the current term 'thionamide'.
Initially, the element of the term described an 'amide in which oxygen is replaced by sulfur'; over time, the term also came to be used specifically for 'a class of antithyroid drugs' that contain that functional group.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a class of antithyroid drugs (e.g., methimazole, propylthiouracil) that contain a thioamide functional group and are used to reduce thyroid hormone synthesis.
Methimazole is a commonly prescribed thionamide for treating hyperthyroidism.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a chemical compound that contains a thioamide functional group (general formula R−C(=S)−NR2), i.e., an amide in which the oxygen atom is replaced by sulfur.
In organic synthesis, the chemist prepared a thionamide as an intermediate for further transformations.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/25 21:16