Etymology

pivalic

P3I1V4A1L1I1C3

Today it means: Relating to pivalic acid or its derivatives. Full definition →

English valeric ← Latin oleum ← Ancient Greek ἔλαιον (élaion)
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The story

  1. Ancient Greekπῐ́νᾰξ (pĭ́năx)
  2. GermanKeton
  3. Englishketone
  4. Englishpinacone
  5. Proto-Hellenic*élaiwon
  6. Ancient Greekἔλαιον (élaion)
  7. Latinoleum
  8. Englishpinacolin
  9. Englishvalerian
  10. Englishvaleric
  11. English todaypivalic

Blend of pinacolin + valeric acid indicating that the eponymous acid is the isomer of valeric acid produced by oxidizing pinacolin.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.