mordant

mor·dant

Use mordant in a sentence

adjective

The definition of mordant is very sarcastic and painful wit or speech.
An example of a mordant person is someone who is always making cruel and sarcastic remarks to others.

noun

Mordant is defined as a substance that attaches dyes to materials, or a corrosive substance used in etching.
An example of a mordant is tannic acid.

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"mordant." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/mordant>.

APA Style

mordant. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/mordant

mordant

biting, cutting, caustic, or sarcastic: said of speech, wit, etc.
causing corrosion
acting as a mordant

Origin of mordant

Middle English mordent from Old French mordant, present participle of mordre, to bite from Classical Latin mordere from Indo-European an unverified form merd-, variant, variety of base an unverified form mer-: see morbid

a substance used in dyeing to fix the coloring matter, as a metallic compound that combines with the organic dye to form an insoluble colored compound, or lake, in the fiber of the fabric
an acid or other corrosive substance used in etching to bite lines, areas, etc. into the surface

to treat or impregnate with a mordant

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MLA Style

"mordant." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/mordant>.

APA Style

mordant. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/mordant

mordant

adjective

a. Bitingly sarcastic: mordant satire.
b. Incisive and trenchant: an inquisitor's mordant questioning.
Bitingly painful.
Serving to fix colors in dyeing.

noun

A reagent, such as tannic acid, that fixes dyes to cells, tissues, or textiles or other materials.
A corrosive substance, such as an acid, used in etching.

transitive verb

mor·dant·ed, mor·dant·ing, mor·dants

To treat with a mordant.

Origin of mordant

French from Old French present participle of mordre to bite from Vulgar Latin mordere from Latin mordēre ; see mer- in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

mor′dan·cy
noun

mor′dant·ly
adverb

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"mordant." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/mordant>.

APA Style

mordant. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/mordant

Adjective

(comparative more mordant, superlative most mordant)

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

Noun

(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.

Verb

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