Esters

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A category of chemical compounds created by the reaction of an alcohol with an acid, which are known for their characteristic scents and wide applications in flavors and perfumes
2. These organic compounds, resulting from the combination of an alcohol and an acid, are recognized for their aromatic properties and usage in various industries, including food and fragrance
3. A class of organic molecules formed from the reaction of an alcohol with a carboxylic acid, commonly noted for their pleasant fragrances and widespread usage in food and cosmetics

Etymology: The word was coined in German, not Greek or Latin. In 1848, the German chemist Leopold Gmelin is the usual credit for "Ester," a term built from two existing words, "Essig" (vinegar, which in its older sense referred to acetic acid) and "Äther" (ether). Scholars generally regard this as a blend of those two sources, though the exact motive is not firmly documented. The "Äther" half connects to a far older word. Ancient Greek "aithḗr" meant the upper, bright air that the gods were thought to breathe, and it passed into Latin as "aether" before reaching German. Chemists in the 1700s used "ether" for volatile, sweet-smelling liquids, which is why the new compounds, many of them fragrant, were given a name that hinted at that same family of substances. The English word "ester" was borrowed from German, and the plural "esters" is simply the form used for the class as a whole.

Synonyms: compounds, derivatives