Protein
/ˈproʊ.ti.ən/noun
A large molecule made of amino acids that is essential to the structure and function of living organisms.
Did you know?The term was coined in 1838 by Jöns Jacob Berzelius from Greek prōteios, meaning “primary” or “of first rank,” because he believed these molecules were fundamental to life.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“to go forward, first, in front”
Ancient Greek
Greek
prôtos
“first”
Ancient Greek
Greek
prōteios
“primary, of first rank”
1838
Swedish/Scientific Latin
protein
“a class of organic substances believed to be the chief material of living tissue”
Modern English
English
protein
“a molecule composed of amino acids that performs structural and functional roles in living organisms”
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