Where does “cetyltriethylammonium” come from?

cetyltriethylammonium (English) comes from English cetyl, from English -yl, from French méthylène, from Ancient Greek μέθυ, from Proto-Hellenic métʰu, from Proto-Indo-European médʰu — honey; honey wine, mead.

cetyltriethylammonium (English): The long-chain quaternary ammonium cation C16H33N(CH3CH2)3+

Definitions

  1. The long-chain quaternary ammonium cation C16H33N(CH3CH2)3+

Ancestry of “cetyltriethylammonium”, step by step

cetyltriethylammonium traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via English cetyl

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcetylThe univalent hexadecyl radical CH- present in...
2English-ylA univalent radical or functional group formed...
3Frenchméthylènemethylene
4Ancient Greekμέθυwine
5Proto-Hellenicmétʰuintoxicating drink; mead
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmédʰuhoney; honey wine, mead

via English triethyl

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtriethylThree ethyl groups in a compound
2Englishtri-API; three; Used in combination with a known...
3Sanskritत्रिthree
4Proto-Indo-Aryantráyasthree
5Proto-Indo-Iraniantráyasthree
6Proto-Indo-European*tréyes

via English ammonium

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishammoniumThe univalent NH cation, derived by the...
2New Latinammōnium
Every word from Proto-Indo-European médʰuEvery word from English -ylEvery word from Proto-Hellenic métʰu