Nelumbic Acid
/nɪˈlʌm.bɪk ˈæs.ɪd/noun
A historically named fatty acid associated with the seed oil of the sacred lotus, Nelumbo nucifera.
Did you know?Its name comes from Nelumbo, the botanical genus of the sacred lotus, whose flowers have long symbolized spiritual emergence from muddy water.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂eḱ-
“Sharp or pointed; the ancient root behind words connected with sharpness and acidity.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
nalina
“Lotus; a poetic name for the aquatic flower.”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
Nelumbo
“The botanical genus name for lotus plants, ultimately associated with South Asian names for the lotus.”
19th Century
Scientific English
nelumbic
“Relating to Nelumbo, the lotus genus.”
19th Century
English
acid
“A substance characterized by sourness or acidic chemical behavior, from Latin acidus, “sour.””
Modern English
English
nelumbic acid
“A historical name for a fatty acid reported in sacred-lotus seed oil.”