Xanthate
/ˈzæn.θeɪt/noun
A salt or ester of xanthic acid, used in chemistry and mineral processing.
Did you know?Its core root is Greek *xanthos* (“yellow” or “golden”), a color word that also appears in ancient personal names and mythic descriptions, giving this very technical term a surprisingly luminous origin.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ξανθός (xanthós)
“yellow, golden, fair-haired”
19th Century
English
xanthic
“pertaining to yellow; later, a chemical term for compounds related to xanthic acid”
19th Century
English
xanthate
“a salt or ester derived from xanthic acid”
Modern English
English
xanthate
“a salt or ester of xanthic acid”
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