vinegar
Meaning
A sour-tasting liquid containing acetic acid, obtained by fermenting dilute alcoholic liquids, and used as a condiment or for pickling.
Structure
Usage
She sprinkled a little balsamic vinegar over the salad.
The recipe calls for two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
The sharp smell of vinegar filled the kitchen during the cleaning.
Etymology
The word 'vinegar' has a transparently literal origin. It entered Middle English from the Old French 'vyn egre', which directly translates to 'sour wine'. This French term was a combination of 'vin' (wine) and 'aigre' (sour, sharp). The Latin ancestors are 'vinum' for wine and 'acer' for sharp, the latter also giving us 'acid' and 'acrid'. Thus, the entire history of the word narrates the simple process of its creation: wine that has turned or been made sharp and sour, perfectly capturing its essence as a product of acetous fermentation.
Analysis
- vine: From Old French 'vin', from Latin 'vinum' (wine). In this compound, it denotes the alcoholic liquid used as the base. - egar: From Old French 'aigre', from Latin 'acer' (sharp, sour). In this compound, it denotes the quality of sourness.