mordant

Etymology

From French mordant.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɔː(ɹ)dənt/
• Homophone: mordent

Adjective

mordant (comparative more mordant, superlative most mordant)

1. Having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting; caustic; sarcastic; keen; severe.

Noun

mordant (plural mordants)

1. Any substance used to facilitate the fixing of a dye to a fibre; usually a metallic compound which reacts with the dye using chelation.
   • 1964, In dyeing two mediums are required, the colouring matter and the mordant which fixes the dye in the wool. — L.F. Salzman, English Industries of the Middle Ages, p. 208.
2. Any corrosive substance used in etching.

Verb

mordant (third-person singular simple present mordants, present participle mordanting, simple past and past participle mordanted)

1. (transitive) To subject to the action of, or imbue with, a mordant.

   Mordant these goods for dyeing.

Anagrams

• dormant

Verb

mordant

1. present participle of mordre

Adjective

mordant (feminine singular mordante, masculine plural mordants, feminine plural mordantes)

1. biting, sharp, acrid
2. mordant
3. corrosive

Further reading

• “mordant” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• dormant