Cire
/ˈsɪər/noun
A wax or wax-like substance, especially one used in cosmetics or pharmaceutical preparations.
Did you know?Cire ultimately belongs to the same linguistic family as Greek kērōs, “wax,” which gave English the word kerosene—originally a fuel made from wax-like hydrocarbons.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European (probable)
PIE
*ker-
“A proposed root associated with burning or heat; the deeper origin of the wax word is uncertain.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kēros (κήρος)
“Wax; a waxy substance used for candles and molded objects.”
Classical Latin
Latin
cēra
“Wax, especially beeswax used for writing tablets, seals, candles, and coatings.”
Old French
Old French
cire
“Wax; a wax coating or wax-like material.”
14th Century
English
cire
“Wax or a waxy substance, borrowed from French.”
Modern English
English
cire
“A specialized term for wax or a wax-like ingredient, particularly in cosmetics and medicine.”