Amphipathic
/ˌæmfiˈpæθɪk/noun
Having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts in the same molecule.
Did you know?The word comes from Greek roots meaning “both” and “suffering/feeling,” because the same *path-* root that appears in *pathetic* originally meant being affected or experiencing something.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peh₂-
“to suffer, feel”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πάθος (páthos)
“suffering, experience, feeling”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀμφί (amphí) + παθής (pathḗs)
“both + affected, feeling”
19th Century
English
amphipathic
“describing a substance with two opposing affinities or behaviors, especially in chemistry”
Modern English
English
amphipathic
“having both water-attracting and water-repelling parts”