vitriolic, a. and n.
(vɪtrɪˈɒlɪk)
Also 7–8 vitriolick, 7 -ike, -iq(ue.
[ad. F. vitriolique (16th c., = It., Sp., Pg. vitriolico), or f. vitriol n. + -ic.]
A. adj.
1. Of or belonging to vitriol; having the nature or qualities of vitriol; impregnated with vitriol.
| 1670 W. Simpson Hydrol. Ess. 62 The solution of the vitriol marcasite..precipitates the same vitriolick oaker. 1676 Grew Anat. Pl., Exper. Luctation ii. §4 Irish Slat..seems to be nothing else but a Vitriolick Bole. 1707 Floyer Physic. Pulse-Watch 257 In the Quartans, the..Pain is from the vitriolic Cacochymia. 1760 Phil. Trans. LI. 470 It is of a subacid taste, and very nauseously vitriolic. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1862) I. xi. 215 A mucous substance, which had something of a vitriolic quality, settled under the reticular membrane. 1802 Playfair Illustr. Hutton. The. 33 This compound of metal and sulphur..is destroyed by the contact of moisture and resolved into a vitriolic salt. 1844 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. VII. 108/1 If the pit water be vitriolic..it becomes necessary to use every means to procure better water. 1899 F. T. Bullen Log Sea-waif 49 A fiery white spirit, fresh from the still... This vitriolic stuff seemed to meet every emergency. |
b. vitriolic acid, oil of vitriol.
| 1747 Wall in Phil. Trans. XLIV. Suppl. 588, I acidulated the Liquors with the vitriolic Acid. 1778 W. Pryce Min. Cornub. 54 It entirely resists the vitriolick acid, which dissolves or corrodes every other known metallick body, except Gold. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T., Forrester, Banknotes, The large bottle of vitriolic acid was broken. 1842 J. W. Orderson Creol. xiii. 137 The gas was generated from steel filings and vitriolic acid. |
2. fig. Of language, persons, etc.: Extremely sharp, caustic, or scathing; bitterly ill-natured or malignant.
| 1841 H. F. Chorley Music & Mann. III. 31 Venting a flood of vitriolic sarcasm, or a flight of high-toned poetry. 1866 E. P. Whipple Characters & Charac. Men 5 Robes⁓pierre..[and] Frederick of Prussia..were both bitter and vitriolic natures. 1879 McCarthy Hist. Own Times II. 197 He never became more than a great Parliamentary critic of the acrid and vitriolic style. 1903 Coleman C. Reade iii. v. (1904) 324 For vitriolic vigour this epistle excels anything in the language. |
B. n. A vitriolic substance. Obs.—1
| a 1700 Evelyn Diary 7 Nov. 1651, It had a taste of a strong vitrioliq, and smelt like aqua fortis. |