a. and sb.; also 4–8 -yk, -yque, icke. [a. F. aromatique (14th c.), ad. L. arōmatic-us, a. Gr. ἀρωματικός: see AROMA.]
A. adj.
1. Having the fragrant smell, and warm, slightly pungent, taste, of spice; yielding aroma; spicy, fragrant, sweet-smelling.
1366. Maundev., xvi. 174. Ensense and other aromatyk thinges of noble smelle.
1486. Caxton, Curial, 6. The grete and delycious wynes aromatyques that he dranke.
1542. Boorde, Dyetary, iv. (1870), 239. Herbes of aromatyck and redolent sauours.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 469. Whose dead Bodies were embalmed with Aromatick odours.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 150. Of a very agreeable Smell, and a biting Aromatick Taste.
1732. Pope, Ess. Man, I. 200. Die of a rose in aromatic pain.
1845. Darwin, Voy. Nat., ii. (1879), 31. The leaves of the camphor, pepper, cinnamon, and clove trees were delightfully aromatic.
2. Chem. Epithet of an extensive group of organic compounds, consisting of benzene and its homologues (i.e., hydrocarbons of the formula C11 H2n–6, with the alcohols, acids, and bases derived from them).
Called aromatique by Kekulé in 1865 (Bull. de la Soc. Chim. de Paris), on account of the peculiar and fragrant odors possessed by some of them, especially by certain derivatives of benzene, such as benzoic acid, bitter almond oil, &c.
[1814. Sir H. Davy, Agric. Chem., 146. Woods that contain aromatic oils are remarked for their indestructibility.]
1869. Watts, Dict. Chem., VI. 193. The aromatic compounds form a group running parallel, as it were, with the fatty bodies, and like the latter including hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids, amines, etc. Ibid., 206. Several monatomic aromatic acids exist as natural products. Thus benzoic acid exists ready formed in gum benzoin.
B. sb. A substance or plant emitting a spicy odor; a fragrant drug; a spice.
1494. Fabyan, VI. clxv. 160. Enoynted with ryche and precyous bawmys, and other oyntmentis, and aromatykes.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 111. It keeps our Spice, and Aromatics sweet.
1748. Anson, Voy., II. i. 117. The trees … are most of them aromaticks.
1821. Combe (Dr. Syntax), Wife, I. 278. While Ma’am the Aromatics blended, To gain the scent which she intended.
