relating to phosphorus in a state of lower oxidation than phosphoric compounds
hypophosphorous in American English
(ˌhaipəˈfɑsfərəs, -fɑsˈfɔrəs, -ˈfour-)
adjective
of or derived from hypophosphorous acid
Word origin
[1810–20; hypo- + phosphorous]This word is first recorded in the period 1810–20. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: dynamic, realism, technique, triangulation, voodoohypo- is a prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “under” (hypostasis). On this model, hypo- isused, especially as opposed to hyper-, in the formation of compound words (hypothyroid). Other words that use the affix hypo- include: hypocaust, hypochondria, hypocrisy, hypostatic, hypotonic