English
ethylenediaminetetraacetate
From ethylene + diamine + tetra- + acetate.
A compound of ethylene + diamine + tetra- + acetate
Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwóres ‘four’
Proto-Hellenic *kʷétwores ‘four’
Ancient Greek τέσσαρες ‘four’
Ancient Greek τέτταρες ‘Attic form of τέσσαρες’
English tetra-
Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’
…
Proto-Italic *akēō
Latin aceō ‘to be sour’
Latin acēscō ‘to become sour, to turn sour’
Latin acētum ‘vinegar’
English acetate
Today it means
noun Any salt or ester of ethylenediaminetetracetic acid
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / ethylenediaminetetraacetate