dissolvent

American  

[dih-zol-vuhnt] / dɪˈzɒl vənt /

adjective

1. capable of dissolving another substance.

---

noun

1. a solvent.

dissolvent British  

/ dɪˈzɒlvənt /

noun

1. a rare word for solvent

---

adjective

1. able to dissolve

Etymology

Origin of dissolvent

First recorded in 1640–50, dissolvent is from the Latin word dissolvent- (stem of dissolvēns, present participle of dissolvere ). See dis- ¹, solvent

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dissolvent

The Italian kingdom is the fruit of the alliance between the strong monarchical principles of Piedmont and the dissolvent forces of revolution.

From The Liberation of Italy by Martinengo-Cesaresco, Countess Evelyn

The stomach has a dissolvent that causes hunger, and puts man in mind of his want of food. 

From The Existence of God by Morley, Henry

This striking pair were the two complements of a single noble and solid type, holding tenaciously, in a century of dissolvent speculation, to the best ideas of a society that was slowly passing.

From Burke by Morley, John

It is very useful for those who suffer from evacuations and dysentery; it corrects those ailments and is good as a mild and dissolvent food.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 21 of 55 1624 Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century. by Robertson, James Alexander

Some of them preferred cementation; others sought the universal alkahest, or dissolvent; and some of them boasted the great efficacy of the essence of emery.

From Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions — Volume 3 by Mackay, Charles

Related Words

• acerbic
• acrid
• biting