Absorptum

Absorptum is a Latin noun formed as the supine of the verb absorbere, literally meaning “that which is absorbed” or “the absorbed thing.” In Latin scientific and scholastic prose, it is used to designate the substance or quantity that has undergone absorption, as opposed to what remains unabsorbed.

Grammatically, absorptum is related to absorptus (the past participle meaning “absorbed”) and to the abstract noun absorptio (absorption). In texts written in Latin, absorptum can function as a name for the object of absorption in phrases describing processes where a material, energy, or substance is taken up or retained by another medium or organism.

Modern usage and translations: absorptum is largely a historical or linguistic term in contemporary English-language science writing. In current practice, authors typically employ terms such as absorption, absorbed dose, absorbate, absorptivity, or absorptance to express the concept. When Latin is used for historical editioning or translation of older works, absorptum may appear to indicate the portion or product of an absorption process.

Contexts: The core idea associated with absorptum is the portion of a system that has been taken up or integrated during an absorption event. This can apply across disciplines, including physics (absorption of light or radiation), chemistry (absorption of a substance into another phase), and physiology or pharmacology (the portion of a substance that enters the systemic circulation). In each case, absorptum serves as a referent for what has been absorbed, rather than for the mechanism or rate of absorption itself.

See also: Absorption, Absorptivity, Absorptance, Absorbed dose.