aspirin etymology

Etymology

  • Latin: Aspirina
  • German: Aspirin
  • Greek: Aspis ("asp" or "viper") + irin ("ingredient")

Meaning

  • A synthetic form of salicylic acid used as an analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory drug.

Origin

Aspirin was first developed in 1897 by Felix Hoffmann, a German chemist working for the Bayer pharmaceutical company. Hoffmann was searching for a less irritating alternative to salicylic acid, which was a common pain reliever at the time but could cause stomach upset.

Hoffmann tested several derivatives of salicylic acid and eventually synthesized acetosalicylic acid, which he named "Aspirin" after the Latin word for asp and the irin suffix. The name was chosen because of the drug's analgesic (pain-relieving) properties, which were similar to those of the venom of the asp viper.

Aspirin was initially marketed as an anti-rheumatic drug, but its use as a pain reliever and fever reducer quickly gained popularity. It became one of the most widely used over-the-counter drugs in the world.

Aspirin remains an important drug in modern medicine, and it is still commonly used for pain relief, fever reduction, and inflammation.

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