volatility (vol a til it i)

[ Sydney Smith , in Lady Holland, vi. 2. The state or property of being volatile; disposition to exhale or evaporate; that property of a substance which disposes it to become more or le freely or rapidly diffused and wasted in the atmosphere; capability of evaporating, or being di ipated at ordinary atmospheric temperatures: as, the volatility of ether, alcohol, ammonia, or the e ential oils. By the spirit of a plant we understand that pure elaborated oil which, by reason of its extreme volatility , exhales spontaneously, and in which the odour or smell consists. Arbuthnot . 3. The character of being volatile; frivolous, flighty, or giddy behavior; mutability of mind; levity; flightine ; ficklene : as, the volatility of youth. A volatility of temperament in the young lady. G. Meredith, The Egoist, vi. Syn. 3. Lightne , Frivolity , etc. (see levity ), instability, giddine . volatilizable