-itol, suffix Chem.
(ɪtɒl)
[f. -ite1 4 + -ol 1.]
Used to form the names of polyhydric alcohols other than di- or trihydric alcohols.
Such compounds were formerly given names terminated by -ite, as in dulcite, inosite, mannite. These names were later modified by the addition of -ol to express their alcoholic nature, giving e.g. dulcitol, inositol, mannitol. Hence in mod. use -itol has become an independent suffix, as in hexitol.