sulphurous

[ suhl-fer-uhs, suhl-fyoor-uhs ]

adjective

1. sulfurous ( defs 1, 2 ).
2. pertaining to the fires of hell; hellish or satanic.
3. fiery or heated.

sulphurous

/ ˈsʌlfərəs /

adjective

1. Alsosulphureous of, relating to, or resembling sulphur

   a sulphurous colour

2. of or containing sulphur with an oxidation state of 4

   sulphurous acid

3. of or relating to hellfire
4. hot-tempered

Derived Forms

• ˈsulphurousness, noun
• ˈsulphurously, adverb

Other Words From

• sulphur·ous·ly adverb
• sulphur·ous·ness noun
• non·sulphur·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sulphurous¹

First recorded in 1520–30; spelling variant of sulfurous

Example Sentences

There was a terrible, sulphurous smell, like rotten eggs, and a tremendous pressure against my chest.

From The Daily Beast

Nor did the voluble and sulphurous orders to halt that a patrol-ship flashed north.

From Project Gutenberg

On the superheated surface white streaks ran like lightning in a sulphurous cloud.

From Project Gutenberg

A distant but threatening thunder murmur broke from the heart of a bank of sulphurous clouds beating closely over the south.

From Project Gutenberg

This refrigerator is like those which we employ in our sulphurous anhydride frigorific apparatus.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus far the value of the products obtained by absorption of sulphurous acid has not been equal to the cost of producing them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• biting
• caustic
• harsh
• mordant
• sarcastic
• scorching
• searing
• trenchant
• withering