saccharin Chem.
(ˈsækərɪn)
[f. med.L. sacchar-um or Gr. σάκχαρον, σάκχαρ(ι) sugar + -in.]
1. The anhydride of saccharic acid. (Discovered and named by Péligot 1880.)
| 1880 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. Abstr. 232 Saccharin is not a sugar; it does not ferment; it has not a sweet taste. |
2. An intensely sweet substance obtained from coal tar,
o-sulphobenzoic imide, C
7H
5NO
3S, used in minute quantities for sweetening the food or drink of persons to whom sugar is injurious. In non-technical use (
prob. as a result of confusion with
saccharine a.
and n.) also
saccharine (
ˈsækəriːn).
| 1885 Jrnl. Soc. Chem. Ind. 608/1 The inventors [sc. Fahlberg and List] name the new substance ‘Saccharine’, although it is not related to the class of sugars, but is a derivative of benzoic acid. The scientific name of the substance is benzoylsulphimide. 1887 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 8 Jan. 93/2 Saccharine is not at present procurable. 1893, etc. [see dulcin b]. 1918 G. Frankau One of Them xvii. 128 Swiftly and cloying-sweet as saccharine In Governmental tea, a week had melted. 1973 J. G. Tweeddale Materials Technol. II. vii. 164 Many pharmaceutical products (including the sweetening substance saccharine) originated from coal-gas waste. 1977 N.Y. Times Mag. 15 May 88 It seems to strike most people as absurd, even outrageous, that saccharin has been indicted, convicted and condemned as a carcinogen. 1977 New Yorker 27 June 24/2 Only recently, the press has devoted acres of space to the subject of saccharin. |
| attrib. 1926–7 Army & Navy Stores Catal. 480/1 Saccharine tablets. bot. 100 –/10. 1968 Canad. Antiques Collector Nov. 21/2 During World War II still another use was found for these decorative little boxes..as containers for saccharin pills. 1978 G. Fox Amok iii. 25 Lenore took a tiny saccharin pill.., grimaced as she dropped it into her coffee. 1978 E. Malpass Wind brings up Rain iv. 43 He pushed the bag of sugar into a drawer. If she wanted a cup of tea she could use her saccharine tablets. |