pivalic

P3I1V4A1L1I1C3

adjective

Relating to pivalic acid or its derivatives.

OriginEnglish valeric ← Latin oleum ← Ancient Greek ἔλαιον (élaion) →
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Meanings

adjectivepivalic (not comparable)
  1. not comparablechemistryRelating to pivalic acid or its derivatives.

Origin

  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. Englishpivalic

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

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

pivalic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pivalic

MLA

“pivalic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pivalic. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pivalic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pivalic.

Source: pivalic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.