Saponaceous
[sap-ə-NAY-shəs]
Part of speech: adjective
Origin: Latin, early 18th century
1.
Of, like, or containing soap; soapy.
Examples of Saponaceous in a sentence
"A saponaceous substance was smeared on my windshield."
"Tim used a saponaceous liquid to clean the dirt off his tires."
About Saponaceous
This word comes from the modern Latin “saponaceus,” stemming from the Latin “sapo,” meaning “soap,” and the adjective-forming suffix “-ous.”
Did you Know?
“Saponaceous” describes substances used to make soap, such as aloe gel and glycerin, but it can also describe substances that have a soapy feel or appearance, including mica and some shales. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the word started to be used to describe people who exhibit an evasive, slippery character.
