Abradant

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Pronunciation: /əˈbɹeɪd.n̩t/

Definitions

1. A substance applied to surfaces to wear them down or smooth them through friction
2. A gritty material that removes small amounts of a surface by rubbing or scraping
3. An agent used to smooth or clean surfaces by abrading them with rough particles

Etymology: "Abradant" is a straightforward formation: English "abrade" (to scrape or wear away by rubbing) with the suffix "-ant", which forms nouns and adjectives denoting an agent or something that performs an action. An abradant is therefore a thing that abrades, a rough material used for scouring or grinding surfaces. The suffix itself has a long pedigree. It descends from a Proto-Indo-European participle ending that passed into Latin as "-ns" and then "-ānsa", and it reached English through Old French "-ant". Old English had its own counterpart, "-ende", which Middle English later reduced to "-ant", so English speakers were already using this ending for centuries before "abradant" was coined.