sympathetic ink
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of sympathetic ink
First recorded in 1715–25
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The fire of inspiration brings out, as it were, designs traced beforehand in sympathetic ink.
From Amiel's Journal by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.
A red sympathetic ink may be made in the following manner: Write with a very dilute solution of perchloride of iron—so dilute, indeed, that the writing will be invisible when dry.
But this was only a blind; the real letters were written in cipher, with sympathetic ink.
From Mr. Fortescue An Andean Romance by Westall, William
You've heard what I confess: I don't unsay A single word: I cheated when I could, Rapped with my toe-joints, set sham hands at work, Wrote down names weak in sympathetic ink.
From Robert Browning by Chesterton, G. K. (Gilbert Keith)
Your highness," returned the courier, "the dispatches are secret, and written with sympathetic ink.
From Prince Eugene and His Times by Mühlbach, L. (Luise)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
