Macerate
/ˈmæs.ə.reɪt/noun
To soften or break down food or other substances by soaking in a liquid.
Did you know?In ancient cuisines, maceration was often seen as a mystical process, believed to extract the essence or spirit from ingredients, enhancing their flavors and medicinal properties.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
macerare
“To make thin or weak, to soften.”
Old French
Old French
macerer
“To steep in liquid, to soften.”
Middle English
Middle English
maceraten
“To soften or dissolve in a liquid.”
Modern English
English
macerate
“To reduce to a state of softness or dissolution through soaking.”
Explore more surprising origins