Definition of Arsenic

Arrest

ARSENIC noun

	A kind of cosmetic greatly affected by the ladies, whom it greatly affects in turn. 'Eat arsenic? Yes, all you get,' Consenting, he did speak up; ''Tis better you should eat it, pet, Than put it in my teacup.' Joel Huck

		definition from: *The Devil's Dictionary* by Ambrose Bierce, 1911

Art

Regular definition:

ARSENIC:
?. ?n.??:sn?k n. & adj. --n. 1 a non-scientific name for arsenic trioxide, a highly poisonous white powdery substance used in weed-killers, rat poison, etc. 2 Chem. a brittle semi-metallic element, used in semiconductors and alloys. °Symb.: As. --adj. 1 of or concerning arsenic. 2 Chem. containing arsenic with a valency of five. øred arsenic = REALGAR. white arsenic = sense 1. øøarsenious adj. [ME f. OF f. L arsenicum f. Gk arsenikon yellow orpiment, identified with arsenikos male, but in fact f. Arab. al-zarnik f. al the + zarnik orpiment f. Pers. f. zar gold]

Last updated: 9/3/2011 12:48:30