zoonic, adj.

zoonic
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoonic_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2017

# † zoonicadjective

## Earlier version

- zoonic, a. in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the adjective zoonic mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective zoonic. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

This word is now obsolete. It is last recorded around the 1850s.

### Where does the adjective zoonic come from?

Earliest known use

late 1700s

The earliest known use of the adjective zoonic is in the late 1700s.

OED's earliest evidence for zoonic is from 1798, in Philosophical Magazine.

zoonic is a borrowing from French.

Etymons: French zoonique.

### Nearby entries

1. zoomorphosed, adj. 1955–
2. zoom shot, n. 1930–
3. zoomy, adj. 1931–
4. zoomythic, adj. 1889–
5. zoon, n. 1851–1905
6. zoon, v. 1880–
7. zoon, int. 1863–
8. -zoon, comb. form
9. zoonate, n. 1798–1857
10. zoonerythrin, n. 1882–
11. zoonic, adj.1798–1853
12. zooning, n. 1885–
13. Zoonist, adj. 1890–97
14. zoonite, n. 1838–
15. zoonitic, adj. 1860–91
16. zoonomic, adj. 1836–
17. zoonomical, adj. 1800–
18. zoonomist, n. 1800–99
19. zoonomy, n. 1800–
20. zoonosis, n. 1873–
21. zoonosologist, n. 1860–

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from French.
Etymon: French zoonique.
< French zoonique (in acide zoonique: C.-L. Berthollet 1798, in Jrnl. de phys., de chim., d'hist. nat. et des arts vol. 3 385) < ancient Greek ζῷον animal (see zoon n.) + French ‑ique ‑ic suffix…
< French zoonique (in acide zoonique: C.-L. Berthollet 1798, in Jrnl. de phys., de chim., d'hist. nat. et des arts vol. 3 385) < ancient Greek ζῷον animal (see zoon n.) + French ‑ique ‑ic suffix.

### Notes

New English Dictionary (OED first edition) (1921) gives the pronunciation as (zoˌǫ·nik) /zəʊˈɒnɪk/ .

## Meaning & use

Chemistry. Obsolete.

1. 1.
   1798–1853
   zoonic acid noun
   An acid obtained by Berthollet from animal substances, later shown to be impure acetic acid.
   1. 1798

      > On a new Acid procured from Animal Substances, called the Zoonic Acid. By M. Berthollet.

      Philosophical Magazine vol. 1 68 (heading)
   2. 1853

      > The zoonic acid, which Berthollet..obtained by the dry distillation of animal substances, and regarded as a peculiar acid, was in reality a mixture of acetic acid with another substance.

      H. Watts, translation of L. Gmelin, Hand-book of Chemistry vol. VIII. 283
   organic chemistry
   1. radicated vinegar 1660–1775
      = radical vinegar, n.
   2. radicate vinegar 1694
      = radical vinegar, n.
   3. radical vinegar?1766–
      = glacial acetic acid at glacial, adj. 2b (cf. radicated vinegar, n.).
   4. acetic acid 1788–
      A weak acid which gives vinegar its characteristic taste and pungent smell, and in relatively pure form exists as a clear viscous liquid or glassy…
   5. zoonic acid 1798–1853
      An acid obtained by Berthollet from animal substances, later shown to be impure acetic acid.
   6. ethanoic acid 1892–
      = acetic acid, n.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 2.
   1802
   Of or relating to this acid. rare.
   1. 1802

      > Zoonic radical, Basis of Zoonic acid.

      C. Pye, New Chem. Nomenclature 35
   organic chemistry
   1. bombic 1788–1879
      Designating an acid reported to be present in the chrysalis of a silk moth; of or relating to this liquid. Esp. in bombic acid.
   2. zoonic 1802
      Of or relating to this acid. rare.
   3. pyromalic acid 1819–
      pyromalic acid = maleic acid n. at maleic, adj. 1.
   4. pyrosorbic acid 1832–65
      pyrosorbic acid = maleic acid n. at maleic, adj. 1.
   5. paramalic acid 1835–
      paramalic acid = maleic acid n. at maleic, adj. 1.
   6. paramaleic acid 1838
      paramaleic acid = fumaric acid, n.
   7. uramilic acid 1839–
      A crystalline compound, now regarded as an ammonium salt of hydurilic acid, obtained by treating uramil with acid.
   8. thioformic acid 1857–
      In thioformic acid, H2COS, a crystalline substance melting at 120°C.
   9. phthalic 1869–
      Of, relating to, or derived from phthalic acid or phthalic anhydride; having a chemical structure formally related to that of phthalic acid.
   10. hexonic 1894–
       Designating an acid formed from an aldohexose by oxidation of the aldehyde group to a carboxyl group.
   11. fumaroid 1895–
       Resembling fumaric acid in having a trans configuration in geometrical isomerism.
   12. malenoid 1895–
       Resembling maleic acid in having a cis configuration in geometrical (cis-trans) isomerism. Cf. fumaroid, adj.
   13. parafumaric acid 1904–
       parafumaric acid = maleic acid n. at maleic, adj. 1.
   14. trigenic 1941–
       Genetics. Involving or controlled by three genes.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

zoonic, adj. was revised in June 2017.

zoonic, adj. was last modified in December 2024.