Monosaccharide
/ˌmɒn.oʊˈsæk.ə.raɪd/noun
A simple sugar consisting of a single sugar molecule, such as glucose or fructose.
Did you know?The “saccharide” part ultimately traces to Sanskrit śarkarā, meaning “gravel” or “sugar,” because early crystallized sugar resembled small grains or pebbles.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mon-o-s
“Alone or single”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
śarkarā
“Gravel, grit, or sugar crystals”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μόνος (monos)
“Alone, solitary, or single”
Ancient Greek
Greek
σάκχαρον (sákcharon)
“Sugar, borrowed from an eastern term related to Sanskrit śarkarā”
19th Century
Scientific English
monosaccharide
“A scientific compound formed from Greek mono-, “single,” and saccharide, “sugar””
Modern English
English
monosaccharide
“A single-unit carbohydrate, including glucose, fructose, and galactose”