MORDANT
caustic, corrosive, erosive, vitriolic, mordant
(adjective) of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
black, grim, mordant
(adjective) harshly ironic or sinister; “black humor”; “a grim joke”; “grim laughter”; “fun ranging from slapstick clowning ... to savage mordant wit”
mordant
(noun) a substance used to treat leather or other materials before dyeing; aids in dyeing process
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
mordant (comparative more mordant, superlative most mordant)
Having or showing a sharp or critical quality
Synonyms: biting, caustic, sarcastic, keen, severe
Serving to fix a dye to a fibre.
Noun
mordant (countable and uncountable, plural mordants)
Any substance used to facilitate the fixing of a dye to a fibre; usually a metallic compound which reacts with the dye using chelation.
Any corrosive substance used in etching.
A glutinous size used as a ground for gilding, to make the gold leaf adhere.
Synonyms
• (substance for etching): etchant
Verb
mordant (third-person singular simple present mordants, present participle mordanting, simple past and past participle mordanted)
(transitive) To subject to the action of, or imbue with, a mordant.
Anagrams
• dormant
Source: Wiktionary
Mor"dant, a. Etym: [F., p.pr. of mordere to bite; L. mordere. See
Morsel.]
1. Biting; caustic; sarcastic; keen; severe.
2. (Dyeing & Calico Printing)
Definition: Serving to fix colors.
Mor"dant, n. Etym: [F., originally, biting.]
1. Any corroding substance used in etching.
2. (Dyeing & Calico Printing)
Definition: Any substance, as alum or copperas, which, having a twofold
attraction for organic fibers and coloring matter, serves as a bond
of union, and thus gives fixity to, or bites in, the dyes.
3. (Gilding)
Definition: Any sticky matter by which the gold leaf is made to adhere.
Mor"dant, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mordanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Mordanting.]
Definition: To subject to the action of, or imbue with, a mordant; as, to
mordant goods for dyeing.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition