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.
But this was only a blind; the real letters were written in cipher, with sympathetic ink.
From Mr. Fortescue An Andean Romance by William Westall
Sure enough, it was the same in design as the fireplace which the heat had so unexpectedly brought out in sympathetic ink on the blank sheet of paper.
From The Romance of Elaine Sequel to "Exploits of Elaine" by Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin) Reeve
It appears that there is much correspondence with sympathetic ink at Zossen.
From The Better Germany in War Time Being some Facts towards Fellowship by Harold W. (Harold Williams) Picton
They are like the lines of a letter written in sympathetic ink; hold the letter to the fire for a while and the grateful warmth brings out the invisible words.
From The Diary of a Man of Fifty by Henry James
Might there not be something written in sympathetic ink?
From The Naval History of the United States Volume 1 by Willis J. (Willis John) Abbot
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.
