azote Chem.
(æˈzəʊt)
Also 8–9 azot.
[a. F. azote, f. Gr. ἀ priv. + ζώ-ειν = ζά-ειν to live, ζωή life. Littré points out that this word (like oxygen) is not etymologically formed, since Gr. ἄζωτος means ‘ungirt.’]
The name given by Lavoisier, from its inability to support life, to the gas now known as nitrogen.
| 1791 E. Darwin Bot. Gard. i. 73 note, Azote..combined with Calorique or heat, forms azotic gas..and composes two thirds of the atmosphere. 1791 Hamilton Berthollet's Dyeing I. i. ii, i, Azot in its elastic form constitutes..phlogisticated gas. 1848 Carpenter Anim. Phys. 25 Most plants require the element nitrogen or azote as one of the materials of their growth. |
b. fig.
| 1850 M{supc}Cosh Div. Govt. ii. ii. (1874) 209 Unlike that air, all azote, of which the Atheist breathes. 1865 W. Palgrave Arabia I. 149 The noxious Wahhabee atmosphere, the purest azote of Mahometanism. |
Hence: † ˈazotane [see -ane 2 a], Davy's name for Chloride of Nitrogen. azotine (ˈæzətaɪn), a residuum of melted wool, rich in nitrogen, resulting from the action of superheated steam on mixed cotton and woollen rags. † ˈazotite, a salt of azotous acid, a nitrite. † azotous (əˈzəʊtəs), a., nitrous. † azoturet (əˈzəʊtjʊərɪt), a nitride. azotometer (æzəʊˈtɒmɪtə(r)), an apparatus for measuring the amount of nitrogen present.
| 1827 Faraday Chem. Manip. xix. 501 Tube syringes..for the removal of azotane. 1884 Manch. Exam. 20 Oct. 7/1 The residue, which has received the name of azotine..is valuable on account of its nitrogen. 1854 Scoffern in Orr's Circ. Sc. Chem. 326 Hyponitrous acid, termed by Graham..azotous, or nitrous acid. 1819 J. G. Children Chem. Anal. 110 Azoturet of potassium or sodium..the compound formed by heating potassium or sodium in dry ammoniacal gas. 1876 Catal. Sci. App. S. Kens. No. 2564 Improved Azotometer. |