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cap·sa·i·cin

(kăp-sāĭ-sĭn)

A pungent alkaloid, C₁₈H₂₇NO₃, derived from certain capsicums that is a strong irritant to skin and mucous membranes and is used in some topical pain relievers and in pepper sprays.

[Alteration (perhaps influenced by Latin capsa, box) of earlier capsicin : CAPSIC(UM) + -IN.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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