vinegar

Meaning

Noun

1. A sour liquid formed by the fermentation of alcohol used as a condiment or preservative; a dilute solution of acetic acid.
2. Any variety of vinegar.
3. (informal) Vigor; vitality.

Verb

To season or otherwise treat with vinegar.

Synonyms

acetum

salmagundi

sour

piccalilli

vin

eisel

table vinegar

Hyphenated as

vin‧e‧gar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈvɪnəɡə/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: vynegre

Cognate with Old English: æċed

Cognate with Middle English: eced

In summary

From Middle English vynegre, from Old French vinaigre from Old French vyn egre, based on Latin vīnum (“wine”) + Latin ācer (“sour”). Displaced Old English æċed (survived in Middle English eced).