phycite

P3H4Y4C3I1T1E1

noun

Erythritol, C₄H₆(OH)₄, that has been obtained from the alga Protococcus vulgaris.

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Meanings

nounphycite (countable and uncountable, plural phycites)

plural phycites

  1. countableobsoleteuncountablechemistryErythritol, C₄H₆(OH)₄, that has been obtained from the alga Protococcus vulgaris.

    Although this new substance, phycite, (as he calls it) is very sweet, M. Lamy objects to its being called a sugar.

    1854, Annual of Scientific Discovery, page 266
    2 more examples

    The elementary composition of phycite is as follows: — Carbon 39.33 Hydrogen 8.25 Oxygen 52.46 which is represented by the formula C¹² H¹⁵O¹², in consequence of its relations...

    1853, William Francis, The Chemical Gazette, page 200

    Phycite is a saccharine substance obtained from an Alga, the Protococcus vulgaris, known under the name “Phycie.”

    1853, American Journal of Science

Origin

From phyco- + -ite.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

phycite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phycite

MLA

“phycite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phycite. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “phycite,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phycite.

Source: phycite on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.