mordant

From French mordant.

• IPA^(key): /mɔː(ɹ)dənt/
• Homophone: mordent

mordant (comparative more mordant, superlative most mordant)

1. Having or showing a sharp or critical quality

   Synonyms: biting, caustic, sarcastic, keen, severe

2. Serving to fix a dye to a fibre.

mordant (plural mordants)

1. Any substance used to facilitate the fixing of a dye to a fibre; usually a metallic compound which reacts with the dye using chelation.
   • 1964, L.F. Salzman, English Industries of the Middle Ages, p. 208.

     In dyeing two mediums are required, the colouring matter and the mordant which fixes the dye in the wool.

2. Any corrosive substance used in etching.
3. A glutinous size used as a ground for gilding, to make the gold leaf adhere.

• (substance for etching): etchant

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

1. (transitive) To subject to the action of, or imbue with, a mordant.

   Mordant these goods for dyeing.

• mordant on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• mordent

• dormant

mordant

1. present participle of mordre

mordant (feminine singular mordante, masculine plural mordants, feminine plural mordantes)

1. biting, sharp, acrid
2. mordant
3. corrosive

• “mordant” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

• dormant