- a variation of mordent.
mordant
Americanadjective
noun
-
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.
-
an adhesive substance for binding gold or silver leaf to a surface.
-
an acid or other corrosive substance used in etching to eat out the lines, areas, etc.
-
Music. mordent.
verb (used with object)
-
mordants,
present (3rd person singular)
-
mordanted,
past participle, past
-
mordanting
present participle
adjective
-
sarcastic or caustic
-
having the properties of a mordant
-
pungent
noun
-
a substance used before the application of a dye, possessing the ability to fix colours in textiles, leather, etc See also lake 2
-
an acid or other corrosive fluid used to etch lines on a printing plate
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
mordantsimple
-
mordantssimple
-
have mordantedperfect
-
has mordantedperfect
-
am mordantingprogressive
-
are mordantingprogressive
-
is mordantingprogressive
-
have been mordantingperfect progressive
-
has been mordantingperfect progressive
Past
-
mordantedsimple
-
had mordantedperfect
-
was mordantingprogressive
-
were mordantingprogressive
-
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
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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.
See Examples For:
That mordant humor, however enjoyable, tiptoes around the unanswerable question of how, or even whether, we can tell the difference between cosplay and the real thing.
From Salon ● Jun. 7, 2026
Ms. Arnott’s sharply observed novel delivers a well-balanced blend of suspense, mordant wit and social commentary.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
He and his colleagues came up with a mordant slogan: “The SPLC—making hate pay.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
Stamina is what’s required of those born into an earthly reality, for which, to quote mordant Beckett, there is no cure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2025
Tyrion took a mordant pleasure in inventing the details of the colorful life of Hugor Hill, also known as Yollo, a bastard out of Lannisport.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Options already exist for fixing dyes without lead, including natural mordants derived from plants rich in tannins, such as oak bark, pomegranate peel and rosemary, as well as alum, which is considered environmentally safe.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 2, 2026
“And the mordants too. You must learn those. Sometimes sumac. Tree galls are good. Some lichens. “Best is — here, come; let me show you.
From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry
With chromium and aluminium mordants logwood dyes a dark blue, and even black; with tin, a dark purple; and with iron, black.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 8 "Dubner" to "Dyeing" by Various
It is only successful, however, in the case of certain colouring matters and mordants, to some of which reference will be made in the following paragraphs.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 8 "Dubner" to "Dyeing" by Various
Saddening, sad′n-ing, n. a method of applying mordants in dyeing and printing cloths, so as to give duller shades to the colours employed.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
Gallocyanin, as it is called, imparts a violet blue shade to mordanted cotton.
From Coal and What We Get from It by Raphael Meldola
To mordanted calico the shades imparted were dull and heavy, but very solid.
From Field's Chromatography or Treatise on Colours and Pigments as Used by Artists by Thomas Salter
Fine blacks are got if after oiling the cotton is treated with sumac or tannic acid, then mordanted with iron and dyed with alizarine as usual.
From The Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics A Practical Handbook for the Dyer and Student by Franklin Beech
They may be combined with logwood, as they will dye with equal facility on mordanted and unmordanted wool.
From The Dyeing of Woollen Fabrics by Franklin Beech
It crystallizes from alcohol in yellowish red needles, and dyes silk, wool, and mordanted cotton a fine pink colour.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5 "Fleury, Claude" to "Foraker" by Various
The wool is first dyed in the blue vat; then washed and dried; then after mordanting, dyed in the yellow bath.
From Vegetable Dyes Being a Book of Recipes and Other Information Useful to the Dyer by Ethel M. Mairet
This method of mordanting is subject to considerable variations as regards the order in which the various operations are carried out, the strength of the baths, and their composition.
From The Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics A Practical Handbook for the Dyer and Student by Franklin Beech
This form of machine is particularly suited for the mordanting and dyeing of heavy goods.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 8 "Dubner" to "Dyeing" by Various
Or a mordanting salt may be used, containing some volatile acid that on being subjected to a subsequent steaming is decomposed.
From The Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics A Practical Handbook for the Dyer and Student by Franklin Beech
It is then well washed, and is ready for mordanting.
From Vegetable Dyes Being a Book of Recipes and Other Information Useful to the Dyer by Ethel M. Mairet
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.
