n. Any of a group of closely related fat-soluble alcohols that are forms of vitamin E and that differ from the tocotrienols in having saturated side chains. [Greek tokos, offspring, childbirth; see tek- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + Greek pherein, to bear, carry; see bher-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + -OL1 (tocopherols being so called because they were discovered after it was observed that rats did not reproduce when fed a diet lacking these compounds).] |
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