anthoxanthin

noun

an·​tho·​xan·​thin

ˌan(ˌ)thōˈzanthə̇n,

-(t)thə-

plural -s

: any of a group of ivory to yellow or orange crystalline pigments that are similar to anthocyanins in their solubility in plant cell sap but are derived in most cases from flavone or flavonol

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German, from Greek antho- antho- entry 1 + xanth- (in xánthisma "something dyed yellow," derivative, with -ma, resultative noun suffix, of xanthízein "to dye yellow or brown," derivative, with -izein -ize, of xanthós "yellow") + German -in -in entry 1

Note: Anthoxanthin was coined by the German pharmacist Ludwig Clamor Marquart (1804-81), in Die Farben der Blüthen (Bonn, 1835), p. 66: Anthoxanthin (von [Greek letters] ánthos Blume, und [Greek letters] xánthisma gelbe Farbe) ist der Farbestoff aller gelben Blumen ("Anthoxanthin (from ánthos flower, and xánthisma yellow color) is the pigment of all yellow flowers"). Cf.anthocyanin

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