Solute
/ˈsɒl.juːt/noun
A substance dissolved in a solvent to form a solution.
Did you know?The Latin verb solvere meant both “to loosen” and “to pay,” linking chemical dissolving with the ancient idea of releasing an obligation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leuH-
“To loosen, separate, or divide apart”
Ancient Greek
Greek
lýō
“I loosen, release, or dissolve”
Ancient Greek
Greek
lýsis
“A loosening, release, or dissolution”
Classical Latin
Latin
solvere
“To loosen, release, untie, or pay”
Late Latin
Latin
solutus
“Loosened, released, or dissolved”
17th Century
English
solute
“A substance dissolved in a liquid”