preservative etymology

Etymology:

• Preserve (verb): Middle English, from Old French preserver, from Latin praeservare "to protect beforehand," from prae- "before" + servare "to keep safe"
• -tive (suffix): Latin -tivus, from the suffix *-tus indicating an action, result, or condition

Meaning:

A preservative is a substance that is added to food, beverages, cosmetics, or other materials to prevent spoilage or deterioration. Preservatives may inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, or other microorganisms, or they may prevent chemical changes that can cause spoilage.

Origin:

The practice of preserving food dates back to ancient times. Egyptians preserved food by drying it in the sun or by pickling it in salt. Romans used vinegar and honey as preservatives. The use of chemical preservatives became more common in the 19th century, with the development of new chemical processes.

Today, a wide variety of preservatives are used in the food industry, including:

• Antioxidants: Prevent oxidation, which can cause spoilage and rancidity
• Antimicrobials: Inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms
• Acidulants: Lower the pH of food, making it less hospitable to microorganisms
• Chelating agents: Bind to metal ions, which can catalyze spoilage reactions

preservative relate terms

• preserve

  Etymology Preserve comes from the Latin word præservare meaning to keep safe or prot

• memorial

  Etymology of Memorial The word memorial derives from the Latin word memorialis wh

• cedar

  Etymology The word cedar has a long and complex history with roots in several ancient

• conservatory

  Etymology The word conservatory derives from the Latin word conservare meaning to

• pressure

  Etymology Latin pressura from premere to press Meaning Force exerted per unit a

• salt

  Etymology Old English sealt Proto Germanic saltaz Proto Indo European sal salty

• conservative

  Etymology Late Middle English in the sense disposed to preserve existing institutio

• compound

  Etymology Compound a word formed from two or more root words or morphemes Meaning

• spice

  Etymology The word spice comes from the Old French word espice which in turn comes f

• confusion

  Etymology The word confusion is derived from the Latin word confusio which means a

• clue

  Etymology Old English clūwe meaning a ball of yarn Middle English clew meaning