paraffin English · revision 1274

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpæɹ.ə.fɪn/ ''(UK)''; /ˈpɛɹ.ə.fɪn/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|de|Paraffin]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) coined about 1830 by the chemist Karl von Reichenbach^(Etymonline) from [[la|parum|t=too little]] and [[la|affinis|t=bordering on, related]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) because the substance has little affinity for, and reacts little with, other substances.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) It is related to [[affinity]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A white, waxy, tasteless substance, a mixture of hydrocarbons, first obtained from wood tar (1838; by 1832 in Etymonline).^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Reichenbach named the liquid form ''eupion'', but ''paraffin'' (first ''paraffin oil'') was the standard name for it in English by 1860.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In 1872 the chemist Watts made the word a general name for the saturated hydrocarbons, the alkane series.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) The verb, to treat with paraffin, is from 1876.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1830 – German ''Paraffin'' coined.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1838 – in English.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1861 – paraffin oil, kerosene.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1872 – a saturated hydrocarbon.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1876 – verb.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A white or colourless, waxy mixture of [[hydrocarbon|alt=hydrocarbons]] used in candles, wax paper and sealing; paraffin wax.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Any member of the [[alkane]] series.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' [[kerosene|alt=Kerosene]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To coat, soak or treat with paraffin.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[paraffinic]]

+ * [[cycloparaffin]]

+ * [[nitroparaffin]]

+ * [[paraffinize]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[affinity]]

+ * [[alkane]]

+ * [[kerosene]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}