WORD FOR THE DAY: ACIDIFIER

Your word for today is: acidifier, n.

acidifier, n.

[‘Originally: (Chem.) †a supposed active principle in forming acids, esp. oxygen (obs.). In later use: a substance or other agent that makes something acid or causes acidification. Cf. acidify v. 1.’]

Pronunciation: Brit. /əˈsɪdᵻfʌɪə/,  U.S. /əˈsɪdəˌfaɪər/, /æˈsɪdəˌfaɪər/

Etymology: <  acidify v. + -er suffix¹.

  Originally: (Chem.) †a supposed active principle in forming acids, esp. oxygen (obs.). In later use: a substance or other agent that makes something acid or causes acidification. Cf. acidify v. 1.

1796  S. Dickson Ess. Chem. Nomencl. ii. 111 Etymology will not bear them out in affixing to it the sense of acidifier. Oxygen truly signifies acid-sprung.

1800  R. Heron Elements Chem. 393 Hydrogen and carbon united in various modifications, and joined to the universal acidifier, oxygen.

1827  A. Ure Dict. Chem. (ed. 3) 2/2 The union of a peculiar combustible base called the radical, with a common principle technically called oxygen, or the acidifier.

1851 Sci. Amer. 31 May 290/3 The oxygen of the atmosphere, although it is not..the only acidifier, still it is the great one.

1899 Lancet 21 Oct. 1084/1 The tests have been carried out..by means of heat with acetic acid as an acidifier.

1937 Amer. Home Apr. 130/3 Azaleas prefer an acid soil, so if necessary add a bit of aluminum sulphate or other soil acidifier.

2000 Sunday Times (S. Afr.) 23 Apr. 20/8 A bowl of hot tomato soup..often means a bowl of sugar, starch,..yeast extract, flavourants, acidifier, emulsifier, colorants, spices and herbs, and, a trace of tomato.

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