Diluent
/ˈdɪl.ju.ənt/noun
A substance used to dilute another substance, especially a liquid or solution.
Did you know?Diluent ultimately comes from Latin diluere, a verb meaning “to wash away” or “dissolve,” linking modern laboratory language to ancient imagery of cleansing and dispersal.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leu-
“To loosen, divide, or separate”
Classical Latin
Latin
diluere
“To wash away, dissolve, or dilute; literally, to wash apart”
Classical Latin
Latin
diluens
“Washing away or dissolving; the present participle of diluere”
17th Century
English
diluent
“A substance that dilutes or reduces the strength of another substance”
Modern English
English
diluent
“A liquid or other substance used to make a solution less concentrated”