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vin·e·gar

(vĭnĭ-gər)

1. A sour liquid containing acetic acid, produced by fermenting a solution (such as wine or fermented rice) containing ethanol produced by a previous fermentation, used as a condiment and preservative.

2. Sourness of speech or mood; ill temper.

3. Liveliness and enthusiasm; vim.

[Middle English vinegre, from Old French vinaigre : vin, wine (from Latin vīnum) + aigre, sour (from Vulgar Latin *acrus, from Latin ācer; see ak- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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