In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.
LITMUS
litmus, litmus test
(noun) a coloring material (obtained from lichens) that turns red in acid solutions and blue in alkaline solutions; used as a very rough acid-base indicator
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
litmus (countable and uncountable, plural litmuses)
(uncountable) A dyestuff extracted from certain lichens, that changes color when exposed to pH levels greater than or less than certain critical levels.
A simple test of acidity in a liquid using litmus, usually in the form of litmus paper.
A simple test of any attribute; a litmus test.
Synonyms
• (dyestuff from lichen): lacmus
Anagrams
• multis, slum it, sultim, tilmus
Source: Wiktionary
Lit"mus, n. Etym: [D. lakmoes; lak lacker + moes a thick preparation of fruit, pap, prob. akin to E. meat: cf. G. lackmus. See Lac a resinous substance.] (Chem.)
Definition: A dyestuff extracted from certain lichens (Roccella tinctoria, Lecanora tartarea, etc.), as a blue amorphous mass which consists of a compound of the alkaline carbonates with certain coloring matters related to orcin and orcein.
Note: Litmus is used as a dye, and being turned red by acids and restored to its blue color by alkalies, is a common indicator or test for acidity and alkalinity. Litmus paper (Chem.), unsized paper saturated with blue or red litmus, -- used in testing for acids or alkalies.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
22 February 2025
ANALYSIS
(noun) the use of closed-class words instead of inflections: e.g., ‘the father of the bride’ instead of ‘the bride’s father’
Coffee Trivia
