from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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]