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denitrification (n.): 1883; see de- + nitrification. Related: Denitrate; denitrify.
nitrate (n.): 1794, from French nitrate (1787) or formed in English from nitre + -ate (3). Related: Nitrates.
nitre (n.): c. 1400, "native sodium carbonate," from Old French nitre (13c.), from Latin nitrum, from Greek nitron, which is possibly of Eastern origin (compare Hebrew nether "carbonate of soda;" Egyptian ntr). Originally a word for native soda, but also associated from Middle Ages with saltpeter (potassium nitrate) for obscure reasons; this became the predominant sense by late 16c.
nitric (adj.): 1794, originally in reference to acid obtained initially from distillation of saltpeter; see nitre + -ic. Perhaps immediately from French nitrique. Known as aqua fortis, later acid spirit of nitre, then nitric acid. (1787) under the system ordered by Lavoisier.
nitrification (n.): 1827, from French nitrification (1787, de Morveau), from nitrifier (1777), from nitre (see nitre).
nitro (n.): abbreviation of nitroglycerine, 1935, slang.
nitro-: before vowels nitr-, word-forming element used scientifically and indicating "nitrogen, nitrate" or "nitric acid," from comb. form of Greek nitron (see nitre).
nitrogen (n.): 1794, from French nitrogène, coined 1790 by French chemist Jean Antoine Chaptal (1756-1832), from comb. form of Greek nitron "sodium carbonate" (see nitro-) + French gène "producing," from Greek -gen "giving birth to" (see -gen). The gas was identified in part by analysis of nitre. Earlier name (1772) was mephitic air, and Lavoisier called it azote (see azo-).
nitroglycerine (n.): also nitroglycerin, "explosive oily liquid," 1857, from nitro- + glycerin. So called either because it was obtained by treating glycerine with nitric and sulfuric acids or because it is essentially a nitrate (glyceryl trinitrate).
nitrous (adj.): c. 1600, from Latin nitrosus, from nitrum (see nitre). Originally "of nitre, pertaining to nitre;" more precise use in chemistry (designating a compound in which the nitrogen has a lower valence than the corresponding nitric compound) is from 1780s. Nitrous oxide attested from 1800.
nitrify: "Convert (ammonia or another nitrogen compound) into nitrites or nitrates", Early 19th century: from French nitrifier.
monitress: "A female school pupil assigned disciplinary or other special responsibilities; a female monitor", Mid 18th cent.; earliest use found in Samuel Richardson (bap. 1689, d. 1761), printer and author. From monitor + -ess: see -tress.