Amantadine

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əˈmæn.təˌdin/

Definitions

1. A synthetic antiviral medication utilized for treating influenza A while also serving in symptom management of Parkinson's disease and possibly enhancing dopamine release in the brain
2. An artificially created compound that helps in preventing and treating influenza A infections, as well as alleviating Parkinson's disease symptoms and potentially promoting dopamine activity
3. A man-made drug used to combat influenza A viruses and to relieve symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease by influencing neurotransmitter action

Etymology: Amantadine was not discovered as an antiviral at all. Its chemical ancestry runs through adamantane, a hydrocarbon whose name comes from Ancient Greek "adámas," meaning "unconquerable" or "hard," the same root that gave English "adamant." The shape of adamantane's molecule resembles a diamond lattice, which is why chemists named it after the gemstone's ancient byword for hardness. The drug's name is a blend of that chemical name and a suffix. "Amantad-" is an alteration of "adamantane," and "-ine" is the common ending chemists attach to nitrogen-containing compounds, which is what amantadine is. Its name thus preserves a trace of the diamond-hard hydrocarbon from which it was derived, even though its useful effect has nothing to do with hardness.