Acetosity

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈæsɛˌtɒsɪti/

Definitions

1. The quality or state of being sour or having the characteristics of vinegar or acid
2. The characteristic of having a sour or acidic flavor similar to vinegar
3. A state of having a sharp, tangy taste typical of acidic substances such as vinegar

Etymology: "Acetosity" is built from "acetous," which comes from Latin "acetum," meaning vinegar, and the suffix "-osity," which turns an adjective into a noun for a quality or state. The "-osity" ending is itself a blend: it is the English form of "-ositas," a Latin suffix that formed nouns from adjectives ending in "-osus," so "acetous" (sour like vinegar) becomes "acetosity" the way "gaseous" becomes "gaseousness" and "viscous" becomes "viscosity." The word traces back to Late Latin "acetositas," which the English term follows directly. Latin "acetum" in turn came from "acere," to be sour, so the root idea is simply sharpness on the tongue. Vinegar gave its name to the whole family of words, and the chemical prefix "aceto-" that appears in terms such as "acetone" draws on the same Latin source.