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pec·tic acid

(pĕktĭk)

Any of several transparent gelatinous acids that are insoluble in water and are formed by partial or complete hydrolysis of certain esters of pectin.

[French pectique, related to pectin, from Greek pēktikos, coagulating, from pēktos, coagulated; see PECTIN.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

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Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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