vitamin English · revision 10529

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1912|origins=la vita}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈvɪt.ə.mɪn/, /ˈvaɪ.tə.mɪn/, US /ˈvaɪ.t̬ə.mɪn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It was coined as vitamine in 1912 by the Polish biochemist Casimir Funk,^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023) from [[m|la|vīta|t=life]] (see [[vital]]) and [[amine]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) because these substances were thought to be amines or to contain amino acids.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) Merriam-Webster says it was probably first formed in German.^(MWU 2024) The spelling vitamin (1920) dropped the -e once their true nature was known.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Any of a group of organic compounds needed in small amounts for health: 1912.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The lettered names (vitamin A, B, C) were introduced in 1920, at the same time as the new spelling.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A figurative use, something that gives vigour, is from 1921.^(OED 1989) Compounds such as vitamin pill and vitamin deficiency are recorded from 1958 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1912 – vitamine.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1920 – vitamin; vitamin A, B, C.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1921 – figurative use.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Any of a group of organic substances needed in small amounts for normal growth and [[metabolism]], obtained naturally from food.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[vitaminic]]

+ * [[antivitamin]]

+ * [[megavitamin]]

+ * [[vitamer]]

+ * [[B vitamin]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vital]]

+ * [[amine]]

+ * [[vitality]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}