orpiment

[ awr-puh-muhnt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a mineral, arsenic trisulfide, As 2 S 3 , found usually in soft, yellow, foliated masses, used as a pigment.

orpiment

/ ˈɔːpɪmənt /

a yellow mineral consisting of arsenic trisulphide in monoclinic crystalline form occurring in association with realgar: it is an ore of arsenic. Formula: As 2 S 3

1350–1400; Middle English < Old French < Latin auripigmentum pigment of gold; auri- ¹, pigment

C14: via Old French from Latin auripigmentum gold pigment

First, the reaction of orpiment with light created a highly mobile type of arsenic called arsenolite.

The crystals lack the bright color of the orpiment — instead, they are colorless and flatten the flower’s appearance.

Orpiment, which is termed ἁρσενικὁν in Greek, is dug up in Pontus.

Rhusma, rus′ma, n. a mixture of quicklime and orpiment, used as a depilatory.

The finest specimens come from Persia, in brilliant yellow masses, of a lamellar texture, called golden orpiment.

The finest kinds of native orpiment are reserved for artists; the inferior are used for the indigo vat.

Cinnabar, realgar, orpiment and coal form the rest of the mineral products of Kwei-chow.

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

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