phlogistic

[floh-jis-tik]

adjective

1. Pathology.,  inflammatory.

2. pertaining to or consisting of phlogiston.

phlogistic

/ flɒˈdʒɪstɪk /

adjective

1. pathol of inflammation; inflammatory

2. chem of, concerned with, or containing phlogiston

Other Word Forms

• postphlogistic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of phlogistic¹

1725–35; < Greek phlogist ( ós ) inflammable (verbid of phlogízein to set on fire; akin to phlox, phlegm ) + -ic

Example Sentences

For in phlogistic, as in other things, we cauterize our neighbour's digits, but burn our own fingers.

From Project Gutenberg

A self-consecrated party, with their phlogistic system, would deal with the whole South, which, on this topic, is a perfect hornet’s nest already, precisely as an intelligent farmer, in Vermont, dealt with a hornet’s nest, under the eaves of his dwelling—he applied the actual cautery; his practice was successful—he destroyed the nest, and with it his entire mansion.

From Project Gutenberg

Paracelsus strongly insisted on the importance of the changes which occur when a substance burns, and in doing this he prepared the way for Stahl and the phlogistic chemists.

From Project Gutenberg

He then states the phlogistic interpretation of these phenomena: that combustion is caused by the outrush from the burning body of a something called the principle of fire, or phlogiston.

From Project Gutenberg

Lavoisier found great difficulty in making his opinions clear because he was obliged to use a language which had been introduced by the phlogistic chemists, and which bore the impress of that theory on most of its terms.

From Project Gutenberg