Hydroxy
/haɪˈdrɒksi/noun
Relating to or denoting the hydroxyl group, –OH, in chemistry.
Did you know?The first element, hydro-, ultimately comes from the same ancient root behind English water, while oxy- traces to Greek oxys, meaning “sharp” or “acid.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wódr̥
“Water; the reconstructed ancestor of the water-word family.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὕδωρ (hýdōr)
“Water; source of the scientific combining form hydro-.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὀξύς (oxýs)
“Sharp, pointed, or acid; source of the scientific combining form oxy-.”
17th–18th Century
Scientific Latin/Greek
hydro- + oxy-
“Combining forms used in chemical terminology for water and oxygen-related concepts.”
19th Century
English chemistry
hydroxy
“A chemical combining form referring to the hydroxyl group, consisting of oxygen and hydrogen.”
Modern English
English
hydroxy
“Relating to or denoting the –OH group in organic and inorganic compounds.”