comˈburent, a. and n. rare.
[ad. L. combūr-ent-em, pr. pple. of combūrĕre to consume; cf. F. comburant, principe comburant, as applied by Lavoisier.]
Burning (obs.): causing combustion: applied by Lavoisier, and others after him, to that element, esp. oxygen, which, in chemical combination, was supposed to cause the combustion of another body; hence the classification of comburents and combustibles. See combustion 2.
| 1599 A. M. tr. Gabelhouer's Bk. Physicke 50/1 Inscende them at a burninge and comburent candle. 1845 Grove Contrib. Sc. in Corr. Phys. Forces 289. 1890 tr. Jules Verne's Barbicane & Co. xi, Formed by combination..of the principal comburents and combustibles. |