[oe]nanthic

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

oenanthic \oe*nan"thic\, a. [Gr. ? the first shoot of the vine, the vine blossom, the vine; o'i`nh the vine + ? bloom, 'a`nqos flower.] (Chem.) Having, or imparting, the odor characteristic of the bouquet of wine; specifically used, formerly, to designate an acid (oenanthic acid) whose ethereal salts were supposed to occasion the peculiar bouquet, or aroma, of old wine. Cf. oenanthylic. [1913 Webster]

oenanthic acid, oenanthic acid (Chem.), an acid (C6H13.CO.OH) obtained from [oe]nanthic ether by the action of alkalies; called also n-heptanoic acid, 1-heptanecarboxylic acid, enanthic acid, enanthylic acid and oenanthylic acid. It has the odor of sour sweat. It has the CAS registry number 111-14-8.

oenanthic ether, an ethereal substance (not to be confused with the bouquet, or aroma, of wine) found in wine lees, and consisting of a complex mixture of the ethereal salts of several of the higher acids of the acetic acid series. It has an ethereal odor, and it used in flavoring artificial wines and liquors. Called also oil of wine. See Essential oil, under Essential. [1913 Webster +PJC]

oenanthylic \oe`nan*thyl"ic\, a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, oenanthyl; specifically, designating an acid formerly supposed to be identical with the acid in oenanthic ether, but now known to be identical with heptanoic acid.

Note: Oenanthylic and oenanthic are now considered as syonyms (1999). [1913 Webster +PJC]