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definitions

mordant

[ mawr-dnt ]
/ ˈmɔr dnt /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR mordant ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

noun

verb (used with object)

to impregnate or treat with a mordant.

RELATED WORDS

biting, caustic, scathing, acerbic, sardonic, sharp, cutting, acid, bitter, mean, cynical, disparaging, disrespectful, poignant, pointed, acerb

Nearby words

  1. morcha,
  2. mordacious,
  3. mordaciously,
  4. mordacity,
  5. mordancy,
  6. mordant rouge,
  7. mordantly,
  8. mordecai,
  9. mordent,
  10. mordida

Origin of mordant

1425–75; late Middle English < Middle French, present participle of mordre to bite ≪ Latin mordēre; see -ant
Related formsmor·dant·ly, adverbun·mor·dant, adjectiveun·mor·dant·ly, adverb

mordent

or mor·dant

[ mawr-dnt ]
/ ˈmɔr dnt /

noun Music.

a melodic embellishment consisting of a rapid alternation of a principal tone with the tone a half or a whole step below it, called single or short when the auxiliary tone occurs once and double or long when this occurs twice or more.
inverted mordent.

Origin of mordent

1800–10; < German < Italian mordente biting < Latin mordent-, stem of mordēns, present participle of mordēre to bite; see -ent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for mordant

British Dictionary definitions for mordant

mordant

/ (ˈmɔːdənt) /

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, etcSee also lake 2 (def. 1)
an acid or other corrosive fluid used to etch lines on a printing plate

verb

(tr) to treat (a fabric, yarn, etc) with a mordant
Derived Formsmordancy, nounmordantly, adverb

Word Origin for mordant

C15: from Old French: biting, from mordre to bite, from Latin mordēre

mordent

/ (ˈmɔːdənt) /

noun

music a melodic ornament consisting of the rapid alternation of a note with a note one degree lower than itAlso called: lower mordent

Word Origin for mordent

C19: from German, from Italian mordente, from mordere to bite
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for mordant

mordant

adj.

late 15c., "caustic" (of words, speech), from Middle French mordant, literally "biting," present participle of mordre "to bite," from Latin mordere "to bite, bite into; nip, sting;" figuratively "to pain, cause hurt," perhaps from PIE root mer- (2) "to rub away, harm" (see smart (v.)). Related: Mordantly. The noun sense in dyeing is first recorded 1791; the adjective in this sense is from 1902. Related: Mordancy; mordantly.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for mordant

mordant

[ môr′dnt ]

adj.

Serving to fix colors in dyeing.

n.

A reagent, such as tannic acid, that fixes dyes to cells, tissues, or other materials.

v.

To treat with a mordant.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.