Dictionary entry

Saponaceous

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Sap′o‐na″ceous (?), a. [L. sapo, -onis, soap, of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. soap. See Soap.] Resembling soap; having the qualities of soap; soapy.

Saponaceous bodies are compounds of an acid and a base, and are in reality a kind of salt.