mordant
Americanadjective
noun
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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.
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an adhesive substance for binding gold or silver leaf to a surface.
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an acid or other corrosive substance used in etching to eat out the lines, areas, etc.
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Music. mordent.
verb (used with object)
adjective
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sarcastic or caustic
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having the properties of a mordant
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pungent
noun
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a substance used before the application of a dye, possessing the ability to fix colours in textiles, leather, etc See also lake 2
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an acid or other corrosive fluid used to etch lines on a printing plate
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have mordantedperfect
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has mordantedperfect 3rd person singular
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have been mordantingperfect progressive
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are mordantingprogressive
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is mordantingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been mordantingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am mordantingprogressive 1st person singular
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mordantssingular 3rd person
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mordantingparticiple
Past
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had mordantedperfect
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were mordantingprogressive plural
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mordantedsimple
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mordantedparticiple
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was mordantingprogressive singular
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had been mordantingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of mordant
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French, present participle of mordre “to bite,” ultimately derived from Latin mordēre; see -ant
Explanation
If you like Edgar Allan Poe and "The Addams Family," you have a taste for mordant entertainment — that is, anything particularly grim or dark in nature. The original meaning of mordant (which comes from the Latin word modere, meaning "to bite or sting,") was that of a physical substance that literally bit into something, such as the one used to set dye into fabrics, or etch lines into a copper plate. Now, mordant generally refers to a dark or biting artistic style, sense of humor, or psychological outlook.
Vocabulary lists containing mordant
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 8
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mordant jokes about his politically unlucky surname aside, Harris has a vaguely Clintonite or Obama-esque manner and is given to documenting his every encounter on social media.
From Salon • Dec. 2, 2024
The leader of the Commons Penny Mordant described her suggestion as "interesting".
From BBC • Feb. 22, 2024
“I’ve never been so consciously influenced by my being Catholic,” said Catherine Mordant, 46 years old, a stay-at-home mother of four children who voted for Mr. Fillon.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2017
Mordant sarcasm is the idiom of Cynthia and her friends.
From New York Times • Jan. 15, 2010
Mordant wool with 3 per cent chrome, for 3/4 hour and wash.
From Vegetable Dyes Being a Book of Recipes and Other Information Useful to the Dyer by Mairet, Ethel M.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
