from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Malic \Ma"lic\, a. [L. malum an apple: cf. F. malique.] (Chem.)
Pertaining to, or obtained from, apples; as, malic acid.
[1913 Webster]
{Malic acid}, (Chem.) a hydroxy acid
({HO.CO.CH2.CH(OH).CO.OH}) obtained from unripe fruit
(such as green apples, currants, tomatoes or cherries) as
a substance which is sirupy or crystallized with
difficulty, and has a strong but pleasant sour taste. It
is levorotatory or dextrorotatory according to the
temperature and concentration; the natural form is of L-
conformation. A synthetic variety is a derivative of
succinic acid, but as with most simple synthetic
compounds, is a racemic mixture of isomers and thus has no
rotatory action on polarized light.
[1913 Webster +PJC]