mordant

[mawr-dnt]

adjective

1. sharply caustic or sarcastic, as wit or a speaker; biting.

   Synonyms: scathing, acerbic, cutting

2. burning; corrosive.

3. having the property of fixing colors, as in dyeing.

noun

1. 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.

2. an adhesive substance for binding gold or silver leaf to a surface.

3. an acid or other corrosive substance used in etching to eat out the lines, areas, etc.

4. Music.,  mordent.

verb (used with object)

1. to impregnate or treat with a mordant.

mordant

/ ˈmɔːdənt /

adjective

1. sarcastic or caustic

2. having the properties of a mordant

3. pungent

noun

1. a substance used before the application of a dye, possessing the ability to fix colours in textiles, leather, etc See also lake 2

2. an acid or other corrosive fluid used to etch lines on a printing plate

verb

1. (tr) to treat (a fabric, yarn, etc) with a mordant

Other Word Forms

• mordantly adverb
• unmordant adjective
• unmordantly adverb
• mordancy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mordant¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French, present participle of mordre “to bite,” ultimately derived from Latin mordēre; -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of mordant¹

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

Example Sentences

Bronstein wanted to use Byrne’s innate ability to find comic moments in unlikely places in order to capture the mordantly humorous beats in the script.

From Los Angeles Times

Before that, Serra could most often be found mining France’s centuries past for mordant tableau vivants of corporeal concern, most notably in his protracted bedchamber drama “The Death of Louis XIV.”

From Los Angeles Times

Sinclair returned home to Pasadena to write his campaign memoir, which he mordantly entitled “I, Candidate for Governor — And How I Got Licked.”

From Los Angeles Times

Lansdale is a mordantly funny chronicler of Lone Star misdeeds who knows how to keep a plot furiously turning.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s an entertaining, mordantly funny show that’s also softhearted despite all the killings.

From Salon

Related Words

• acerbic 
• biting 
• caustic 
• sardonic 
• scathing