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acétique

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Etymology and origin of the French word acétique

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1787 Guyton de Morveau, Nomenclature chimique More words from the 18th century
Ultimate origin
Latin acētum
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French acétique
English acetic
Derivations

Pronunciation

Forms

acétique (plural acétiques)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French acét- + -ique, the stem coming from Latin acētum (“vinegar”).[2][3][4][5] The word was created in 1787 by Guyton de Morveau for the new chemical nomenclature.[2][6]

Picoche places it in the family of aigre, acide and vinaigre, from an Indo-European root Proto-Indo-European *ak- (“to be sharp, pungent”).[4] Littré likewise traces the Latin word to the stem of acidus (“sour”).[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in 1787 in Guyton de Morveau's Nomenclature chimique, in acide acétique, the acid that is the basis of vinegar; the new name replaced the old names vinaigre radical and esprit de Vénus.[2]

Semantic evolution

From the name of the acid the adjective spread to whatever relates to vinegar or to acetic acid, as in fermentation acétique, the fermentation that turns alcohol into vinegar; the Petit Robert dates this wider use to 1866.[8][2][6] In the late 19th century it was also used figuratively of something sour, such as a shrill voice.[2]

English acetic (1808, in acetic acid) was borrowed from the French word.[9]

Timeline

  • 1787 – Guyton de Morveau names acide acétique in the new chemical nomenclature.[2][6]
  • 1808 – English borrows it as acetic.[9]
  • 1866 – It is used more widely of anything relating to vinegar or acetic acid.[8]
  • 1896 – Willy uses it figuratively of a sour voice.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (chemistry) Acide acétique: acetic acid, the acid of vinegar, a colourless, corrosive liquid; also called acide éthanoïque.[8][2][10]
  2. Relating to vinegar or to acetic acid: fermentation acétique, odeur acétique.[8][6][5]
  3. (figurative, pejorative) Sour, acid.[2]

Usage notes

It is a homophone of ascétique “ascetic”.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
  5. ^ a b Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
  6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Acétique.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/ac%C3%A9tique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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