Oxys

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. As an obsolete or rare form, it refers to plants of the genus Oxys ; as a Latin or Greek root, it denotes “sharp” or “acid” ; as a possible variant, it might appear in scientific or archaic nomenclature pertaining to sharpness or acidity
2. Used in taxonomy for certain plant groups ; originating from classical roots meaning “sharp” or “keen” ; showing up in technical or historical texts about acuteness or pungency
3. Describing a classification of flora in historic botany ; derived from roots associated with sharpness or acerbity ; seen in specialized terminology for things notable for being sharp or sour

Etymology: Ancient Greek speakers used "oxys" (ὀξύς) for anything keen or pointed: a blade, a shrill sound, a sour taste. Sour-tasting plants such as sorrels took the name from that tartness, the sharp sensation that makes the mouth pucker. The same Greek stem gave the botanical genus name Oxalis, the wood sorrels, so a plant name still carries the old sense of sharpness. The root reaches back to an ancient base meaning "sharp," which also produced Latin "acer" and "acidus," and English "acid" and "acute."

Synonyms: oxygen tanks, oxyacetylene