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- Caustic was formed in Middle English as an adjective describing chemical substances, such as lime and lye, that are capable of destroying or eating away at something. The word is based on the Latin adjective causticus, which itself comes ultimately from the Greek verb kaiein, meaning "to burn."
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Sep 3, 2012 · If you have a burning desire to know the origins of caustic, you're already well on your way to figuring it out. Caustic was formed in Middle English as an adjective describing chemical substances, such as lime and lye, that are capable of destroying or eating away at something.
The earliest known use of the word caustic is in the mid 1500s. OED's earliest evidence for caustic is from 1555, in a translation by Richard Eden, translator.
Nov 15, 2022 · "capable of burning or destroying organic tissue, corrosive," from Latin causticus… See origin and meaning of caustic.
Caustic was formed in Middle English as an adjective for chemical substances capable of destroying or eating away something, such as caustic lime. The word is based on Latin causticus , which itself derives from Greek kaustikos .
If you have a burning desire to know the origins of caustic, you're already well on your way to figuring it out. Caustic was formed in Middle English as an adjective describing chemical substances, such as lime and lye, that are capable of destroying or eating away at something.
OED's earliest evidence for caustic is from 1852, in a letter by Elizabeth Gaskell, novelist and short-story writer. It is also recorded as an adjective from the mid 1500s. The verb caustic is formed within English, by conversion.
The adjective 'caustic' has an etymology that aligns with its sharp and biting nature. It can be traced back to the Greek word 'kaustikos,' which is derived from 'kaiein,' meaning 'to burn.'. In its original sense, 'caustic' referred to substances capable of burning or corroding, such as acids.
