Viscosify

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To thicken a liquid so that it flows more slowly and resists pouring more than before
2. To increase the stickiness or thickness of a fluid by adding a substance or treatment
3. To render a fluid more resistant to flow, making it denser and more syrupy in consistency

Etymology: Viscosify is a plain technical coinage built from the English adjective "viscous" and the suffix "-ify," which turns adjectives into verbs meaning "make or become." "Viscous" comes from Late Latin "viscosus," meaning "sticky" or "gluey," which in turn derives from Latin "viscum," the word for birdlime, the sticky substance made from mistletoe berries and used to catch birds. So the original idea behind the root is literally something that clings to a bird's feathers. Viscosify means to make a liquid thicker, usually by adding a substance such as a polymer, clay, or gel. Its use is mostly confined to chemistry, engineering, and industry, where drilling muds, paints, and foods are often deliberately thickened for practical reasons. The word is a straightforward modern formation rather than a term with a dramatic backstory.

Synonyms: thicken, gel, congeal, condense

Antonyms: thin, dilute