vinegary

English

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *weh₁y-?

Proto-Indo-European *-ō

Proto-Indo-European *wéyh₁ōder.

Proto-Italic *wīnom

Latin vīnum

Old French vin

Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ-

Proto-Indo-European *-rós

Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱrós

Proto-Italic *akris

Classical Latin ācer

Late Latin ācrus

Old French aigre

Old French vinaigrebor.

Middle English vynegre

English vinegar

English -y

English vinegary

From vinegar + -y.

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vinegary (comparative more vinegary, superlative most vinegary)

Sour; like vinegar.
When Martha reopened the bottle of wine from the previous week's party, a vinegary whiff indicated that drinking it was out of the question.
- Cherry Jones as Nan Pierce (2023), 42:42 from the start, in Succession, season 4, episode 1: “I like my wine thin and vinegary.”
(figuratively) Acerbic, bitter, irritable.
- 1959, Anthony Burgess, Beds in the East (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 562:
  Then she remembered Jalil's disgusting behaviour of the previous evening and turned to give him vinegary words.
Edward's maiden aunt was a vinegary old soul with a sharp tongue and quick temper; she would not be receiving a wedding invitation.
- 1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC:
  A vinegary face has Mrs Miff, and a mortified bonnet, and eke a thirsty soul for sixpences and shillings.
Of a liquid, having turned partially or fully to vinegar.

sour like vinegar

figurative: acerbic, bitter

having turned partially or fully to vinegar