ZYMOGEN

Zym″o‐gen (?), n. [[Zyme + -gen.]] (Physiol. Chem.) A mother substance, or antecedent, of an enzyme or chemical ferment; — applied to such substances as, not being themselves actual ferments, may by internal changes give rise to a ferment. The pancreas contains but little ready-made ferment, though there is present in it a body, zymogen, which gives birth to the ferment. Foster.