rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: -ique
French

-ique

connected with or characteristic of

Forms

  • -ique
  • -ic — The ending was respelled or shortened in many English borrowings.

Origin

French developed or borrowed this ending from Latin -icus and Greek -ikos.

Note

Some English words retain the French spelling rather than replacing it with -ic.

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Plain vinegar cruet pours into bowl of pickled vegetables, cutaway lemon-like acidity conveyed by fresh vinegar ingredients, no writing.
adjective

acetic

uh-SET-ik/ʌsˈɛtɪk/

Relating to vinegar or the acid that gives it its sour taste.

Etymology
acetLatinvinegar
+icFrenchconnected with or characteristic of

The pieces mean “pertaining to vinegar.” The vinegar word itself originally described wine turned sour, connecting the acid’s name with vinegar’s characteristic sourness.

Full entry

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