arsenic

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: ar=se=nic

CIDE DICTIONARY

arsenic, n. [L. arsenicum, Gr. 'arseniko`n, 'arreniko`n, yellow orpiment, perh. fr. 'arseniko`s or better Attic 'arreniko`s masculine, 'a`rrhn male, on account of its strength, or fr. Per. zernīkh: cf. F. arsenic.].

•  One of the elements, a solid substance resembling a metal in its physical properties, but in its chemical relations ranking with the nonmetals. It is of a steel-gray color and brilliant luster, though usually dull from tarnish. It is very brittle, and sublimes at 356arsenicum of the ancients. The element and its compounds are active poisons. Specific gravity from 5.7 to 5.9. Atomic weight 75. Symbol As.  [1913 Webster]
•  Arsenious oxide or arsenious anhydride; -- called also arsenious acid, white arsenic, and ratsbane.  [1913 Webster]

arsenic, a. 

 Pertaining to, or derived from, arsenic; -- said of those compounds of arsenic in which this element has its highest equivalence; as, arsenic acid.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

arsenic, 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.

Idiom

red arsenic = REALGAR. white arsenic = sense 1.

Usage

Symb.: As.
--adj.
1 of or concerning arsenic.
2 Chem. containing arsenic with a valency of five.

Derivative

arsenious adj.

Etymology

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

DEVIL DICTIONARY

arsenic

n. 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

THESAURUS

arsenic

DDD, DDT, Paris green, antimony, arsenic trioxide, beryllium, bichloride of mercury, cadmium, carbolic acid, carbon monoxide, carbon tetrachloride, chlorine, cyanide, hydrocyanic acid, hyoscyamine, lead, mercuric chloride, mercury, mustard gas, nicotine, phenol, poison gas, prussic acid, selenium, strychnine

ROGET THESAURUS

arsenic

Bane

N bane, curse, evil, hurtfulness, painfulness, scourge, damnosa hereditas, white elephant, sting, fang, thorn, tang, bramble, brier, nettle, poison, toxin, teratogen, leaven, virus venom, arsenic, antimony, tartar emetic, strychnine, nicotine, miasma, miasm, mephitis, malaria, azote, sewer gas, pest, Albany hemp, arsenious oxide, arsenious acid, bichloride of mercury, carbonic acid, carbonic gas, choke damp, corrosive sublimate, fire damp, hydrocyanic acid, cyanide, Prussic acid, hydrogen cyanide, marsh gas, nux vomica, ratsbane, hemlock, hellebore, nightshade, belladonna, henbane, aconite, banewort, bhang, ganja, hashish, Upas tree, Toxline (online), rust, worm, helminth, moth, moth and rust, fungus, mildew, dry rot, canker, cankerworm, cancer, torpedo, viper, demon, toxicology, baneful, poisonous, phr, bibere venenum in auro, Contingent Subservience.