Origin: Latin suffix -ify
Saponify has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
become converted into soap by being hydrolized into an acid and alcohol as a result of being treated with an alkali
"the oil saponified"
convert into soap by hydrolizing an ester into an acid and alcohol as a result of treating it with an alkali
"saponify oils and fats"
To convert (a fat or oil) into soap.