The liquid-erystal compound of the present invention is characterized by having the following molecular structure:
(a) the molecular skeleton has two or more six-membered rings,
(b) the respective six-membered rings are bonded directly to each other,
(c) a carbon atom in each of the terminal six-membered rings is bonded directly to an acyclic terminal group,
(d) one of the acyclic terminal groups bonded to the carbon atom of the six-membered ring is an alkyl group or an alkoxycarbonyl-free group bonding through an alkylene group, and
(e) the other acyclic terminal group bonded to the carbon atom in the six-membered ring has a carbonyl group and a terminal alkoxyl group.