mordant, mordaunt, mourdant

& s. [Fr., from Lat. mordeo =to bite.] IMG:content-1398.png:[blocks in formation] 1. Chem. (pl.): A term applied in dyeing to certain metallic oxides and salts used for fixing colors on fabrics such as cotton and linen, for which they have little or no affinity. Mordants are usually applied to, or printed on the fabric before the color is added, but they are sometimes combined with it, in which case the color is termed a lake. Salts of tin and alumina are commonly employed for bright, and oxide of iron for dark colors. 2. Gilding : A sticky substance to cause gold-leaf to adhere to an object. mor-dant, v. t. [MORDANT, a.] To fix the color in by means of a mordant; to supply or imbue with a mordant. mor-dant-ly, adv . [Eng. mordant ; -ly .] In a mordant manner; after the manner of a mordant. *mor-daunt, s . [MORDANT.]