51Թ

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View synonyms for

mordant

[ mawr-dnt ]

adjective

  1. sharply caustic or sarcastic, as wit or a speaker; biting.

    Synonyms: , ,

  2. having the property of fixing colors, as in dyeing.


noun

  1. a substance used in dyeing to fix the coloring matter, especially a metallic compound, as an oxide or hydroxide, that combines with the organic dye and forms an insoluble colored compound or lake in the fiber.
  2. an adhesive substance for binding gold or silver leaf to a surface.
  3. an acid or other corrosive substance used in etching to eat out the lines, areas, etc.
  4. Music. mordent.

verb (used with object)

  1. to impregnate or treat with a mordant.

mordant

/ ˈɔːəԳ /

adjective

  1. sarcastic or caustic
  2. having the properties of a mordant
  3. pungent
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a substance used before the application of a dye, possessing the ability to fix colours in textiles, leather, etc See also lake 2
  2. an acid or other corrosive fluid used to etch lines on a printing plate
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr to treat (a fabric, yarn, etc) with a mordant
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈǰ岹Գٱ, adverb
  • ˈǰ岹Գ, noun
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ǰdԳ· adverb
  • ܲ·ǰdԳ adjective
  • un·ǰdԳ· adverb
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of mordant1

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French, present participle of mordre “to bite,” ultimately derived from Latin ǰŧ; -ant
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of mordant1

C15: from Old French: biting, from mordre to bite, from Latin ǰŧ
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It’s an entertaining, mordantly funny show that’s also softhearted despite all the killings.

From

Instead, war broke out across Europe, and Asquith made his mordant headache joke on the way to the historical dumpster.

From

Yes, there's been some mordant chuckling in the media over his bizarre comments about "the late great Hannibal Lecter" and his meandering tales about electric boats and shark attacks.

From

His gimlet-eyed observations and mordant humor announced the arrival of a playwright with something to say and the fiery eloquence with which to say it.

From

The members seemed to take that as an official offer, as opposed to a mordant joke.

From

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