semisystematic name

sem·i·sys·te·mat·ic name

(sem'ē-sis'tĕ-mat'ik nām), A name of a chemical of which at least one part is systematic and at least one part is not (that is, is trivial). For example, calciferol includes the -ol suffix denoting an -OH radical, whereas calcifer-, which has no systematic meaning, is used only in this word. Cortisone contains the -one suffix, indicating a ketone group, but the rest of the term derives from cortex (adrenal). Hippuric acid (trivial name) may be defined as N-benzoylglycine (semitrivial name); benzoyl is systematic for the C6H5-CO- radical, whereas glycine is the trivial name for α-aminoacetic (or 2-aminoethanoic, to be completely systematic) acid, and the N signifies that the benzoyl is attached to the nitrogen of glycine; from this, the structure C6H5-CO-NH-CH2-COOH is uniquely defined. Many generic and nonproprietary names of drugs, including USAN names and hormones are semitrivial in this chemical sense; although often termed trivial names, the distinction between trivial and semitrivial is not often made. Synonym(s): semitrivial name

sem·i·sys·te·mat·ic name

(sem'ē-sis'tĕ-mat'ik nām) Name of a chemical of which at least one part is systematic and at least one part is not (i.e., is trivial).