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Webster 1913 Edition
Phenyl
Phe′nyl
,Noun.
[Gr.
φαίνειν
to bring to light + -yl
: cf. F. phényle
. So called because it is a by-product of illuminating gas.] (Chem.)
A hydrocarbon radical (
C6H5
) regarded as the essential residue of benzene, and the basis of an immense number of aromatic derivatives.