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sphin·go·sine

(sfĭnggə-sēn′)

A basic, long-chain, unsaturated amino alcohol, C₁₈H₃₇NO₂, that combines with lipids to form sphingolipids.

[German Sphingosin : Greek sphingos, genitive of sphinx, sphinx (from the mysteries it presented to early observers) + -INE².]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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