FORMIC

formic

(adjective) of or containing or derived from formic acid

formic

(adjective) of or relating to or derived from ants

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

formic (not comparable)

Of or pertaining to ants.

(organic chemistry) Of, pertaining to or derived from formic acid (or from methane).

Synonyms

• antly

Source: Wiktionary

For"mic, a. Etym: [L. formica an ant: cf. F. formique.] (Chem.)

Definition: Pertaining to, or derived from, ants; as, formic acid; in an extended sense, pertaining to, or derived from, formic acid; as, formic ether. Amido formic acid, carbamic acid.

– Formic acid, a colorless, mobile liquid, HCO.OH, of a sharp, acid taste, occurring naturally in ants, nettles, pine needles, etc., and produced artifically in many ways, as by the oxidation of methyl alcohol, by the reduction of carbonic acid or the destructive distillation of oxalic acid. It is the first member of the fatty acids in the paraffin series, and is homologous with acetic acid.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition