Solvent
/ˈsɒl.vənt/noun
A substance that dissolves another substance, especially a liquid.
Did you know?Solvent comes from Latin solvere, “to loosen, untie, release,” the same root behind “solve,” so the word literally carries the idea of unbinding matter.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sel-
“to loosen, release”
Latin
Latin
solvere
“to loosen, untie, release, pay”
Late Latin
Latin
solvens
“loosening, dissolving”
Middle English
Middle English
solvent
“dissolving; having the power to dissolve”
Modern English
English
solvent
“a substance capable of dissolving another substance”