Litmus Definition

lĭtməs
noun
A purple coloring matter obtained from various lichens and used as an acid-base indicator in chemical analysis: it turns blue in bases and red in acids.
Webster's New World
A simple test of any attribute; a litmus test.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Litmus

Noun

Singular:
litmus
Plural:
litmuses

Origin of Litmus

  • 1495, earlier lytmos, from Old Norse litmosi (“moss used for dyeing"), from lita (“to dye, stain"), from litr (“colour, dye, blee"), from Proto-Germanic *wlitiz, *wlituz (“appearance, blee"), from Proto-Indo-European *wel- (“to see") + mosi (“moss"). Cognate with Old English wlite (“appearance, form, brightness, countenance"). More at moss.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English litemose (of Scandinavian origin) (Old Norse litmosi dyer's herbs) (litr color, dye) (mosi bog, moss) Middle English lykemose (from Middle Dutch lijkmoes) (variant of lēcmoes) (lēken to drip) (moes moss)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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