Acetous

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈæ.sɪ.təs/

Definitions

1. Having characteristics related to vinegar, emphasizing a sour or sharp flavor reminiscent of acetic acid
2. Having a sharp or biting flavor or odor like that of vinegar
3. Characterized by a tart or acidic sensation similar to vinegar

Etymology: Vinegar is the thread running through this word. Its Latin source, "acetum," meant vinegar, and that noun came from the verb "aceo," "to be sour." So the sourness came first, and the sharp liquid was named for the quality it produced. English "acetous" simply adds the suffix "-ous," meaning "full of" or "having the nature of," to that Latin stem, giving "having the qualities of vinegar." The word is therefore a close cousin of "acid," which also grows from the idea of sourness, and of "acetic," the chemical adjective used for the sharp-smelling acid that gives vinegar its bite. Those terms show the same root at work in more technical settings.

Synonyms: vinegary, sour, tart

Antonyms: sweet, pleasant