THALIDOMIDE

noun Etymology: phthalic acid + -id- (from imide) + -o- + imide Date: 1958 a drug C 13 H 10 N 2 O 4 that was formerly used as a sedative and is now used as an immunomodulatory agent especially in the treatment of leprosy and that is known to cause malformations of infants born to mothers using it during pregnancy