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From earlier sorbite (from sorb + -ite) + -ol. By surface analysis, sorb + -itol.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
sorbitol
Today it means: A faintly sweet alcohol C₆H₁₄O₆ that occurs in some fruits, is made synthetically, and is used especially as a humectant and softener and in making ascorbic acid. Full definition →