Did you know?
The etymology of mordant certainly has some bite to it. That word, which came to modern English through Middle French, ultimately derives from the Latin verb mordēre, which means "to bite." In modern parlance, mordant usually suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness. Mordēre puts the bite into other English terms, too. For instance, that root gave us the tasty morsel ("a tiny bite"). But nibble too many of those and you'll likely be hit by another mordēre derivative: remorse ("guilt for past wrongs"), which comes from Latin remordēre, meaning "to bite again."
Synonyms
Examples of mordant in a Sentence
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Oct. 2024
There’s mordant wit, too, in the fact that this woman’s liberation is wholly enabled by a man’s rash murder.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 9 Oct. 2024
Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2024
Soak your fabric in the alum solution for 1 hour, stirring often to ensure even uptake of the mordant.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 4 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mordant 
Articles Related to mordant
Dictionary Entries Near mordant
Cite this Entry
“Mordant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mordant. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
mordant
noun
Share