kəˈthepsə̇n, ka- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Greek kathepsein to boil down, digest (from kata- cata- + hepsein to boil) + English -in; akin to Armenian epem I boil
: any of a class of proteases present in most animal tissues (as in kidney, liver, and spleen) that aid in autolysis in certain diseased conditions and after death
• ca·thep·tic -tik adjective