English
acetous
Acetous comes from Latin acētum ‘vinegar’, from acēscō ‘to become sour, to turn sour’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱéh₁yetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*akēōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaceō‘to be sour’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEacēscō‘to become sour, to turn sour’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEacētum‘vinegar’
- Englishearliest quotation 1680acetous
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱéh₁yetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*akēōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaceō‘to be sour’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEacēscō‘to become sour, to turn sour’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEacētum‘vinegar’
- Englishearliest quotation 1680acetous
Earliest quotation: 1680, Robert Boyle: “an acetous spirit”.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’
hear, edge, egg, ear, hammer, eager, axe, acute, oxide, vinegar, mediocre, acne, mediocrity, paragon, acupuncture, hark, acacia, acumen, acme, exacerbate, acuity, acrimony, acrid, exacerbation, rosacea, acerbic, 70 more
through Proto-Italic *akēō
through Latin aceō ‘to be sour’
through Latin acētum ‘vinegar’
Today it means
adj Having a sour taste; sour; acid.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- / acetous