distiller's yeast, ferment, enzyme

酶 is composed of 酉 (tenth earthly branch) and 每 (each). 酉 is a pictogram of a wine container, while 每 originally referred to a woman with strong reproductive vitality, conveying the idea of rapid proliferation and reproduction. Thus, 酶 represents the organisms or agents that continuously multiply during the wine fermenting process. Its original meaning refers to yeast or fermenting liquor, and it later broadened to denote enzymes in general.