Etymology
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adenine (n.)

crystalline base, 1885, coined by German physiologist/chemist Albrecht Kossel from Greek adēn "gland," from PIE root *engw- "internal organ" (see inguinal) + chemical suffix -ine (2). So called because it was derived from the pancreas of an ox.

Entries linking to adenine

inguinal (adj.)

1680s, from French inguinal (16c.) or directly from Latin inguinalis "of the groin," from inguen (genitive inguinis) "groin," from PIE *engw- "groin; internal organ" (which is perhaps also the source of Greek adēn "gland"). Related: Inguinally.

-ine (2)
word-forming element in chemistry, often interchangeable with -in (2), though modern use distinguishes them; early 19c., from French -ine, the suffix commonly used to form words for derived substances, hence its extended use in chemistry. It was applied unsystematically at first (as in aniline), but now has more restricted use.

The French suffix is from Latin -ina, fem. form of -inus, suffix used to form adjectives from nouns, and thus is identical with -ine (1).
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Definitions of adenine

adenine (n.)
(biochemistry) purine base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA;
Synonyms: a
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near adenine

-ade

Adelaide

Adeline

Adelphi

Aden

adenine

adeno-

adenoid

adenoidal

adept

adequacy

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