Associations to the word «Mordant»

Wiktionary

MORDANT, adjective. Having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting; caustic; sarcastic; keen; severe.
MORDANT, noun. Any substance used to facilitate the fixing of a dye to a fibre; usually a metallic compound which reacts with the dye using chelation.
MORDANT, noun. Any corrosive substance used in etching.
MORDANT, verb. (transitive) To subject to the action of, or imbue with, a mordant.

Dictionary definition

MORDANT, noun. A substance used to treat leather or other materials before dyeing; aids in dyeing process.
MORDANT, adjective. Harshly ironic or sinister; "black humor"; "a grim joke"; "grim laughter"; "fun ranging from slapstick clowning ... to savage mordant wit".
MORDANT, adjective. Of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action.

Wise words

Man is a creature who lives not upon bread alone, but principally by catch words.
Robert Louis Stevenson