polychromic, a.
(pɒlɪˈkrəʊmɪk)
[f. as polychrome + -ic.]
1. = polychromatic, polychrome a.
| 1839 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. II. 367/2 Thence originated polychromic sculpture. 1859 Gullick & Timbs Paint. 310 Polychromic decoration was added to many parts of the architectural details. 1891 Anthony's Photogr. Bull. IV. 420 It would be impossible to so easily obtain with fat ink polychromic prints at one operation. |
2. Chem. polychromic acid: a name for aloetic acid, from the various colours it exhibits in powder, in solution, and in combination.
| 1863–72 Watts Dict. Chem. I. 148 Aloetic Acid{ddd}Polychromic Acid... Produced by the action of nitric acid upon aloes, chrysammic acid being formed at the same time... The acid is obtained in the form of an orange-yellow powder... It..dissolves..in boiling water, forming a solution of a splendid purple colour. 1866–8 Ibid. IV. 687 Polychromic or Polychromatic Acid, syn. with Aloetic Acid. |
So
ˈpolyˌchromist (
nonce-wd.), one who holds a theory of polychromy; one who holds that statues ought to be painted in the natural colours;
ˈpolychromize v. trans., to render polychromic, to execute in or decorate with several colours;
ˈpolyˌchromous a. = polychrome a.
| 1861 Jrnl. Soc. Arts IX. 424/1 Is the addition of coloring to statues..an advance in art, or a retrogression? The *polychromist will..hold it to be the former. 1864 Sat. Rev. 21 May, The unquestioning assumption of the polychromists that ‘circumlitio’ in this passage means ‘painting’. |
| 1881 Eng. Mechanic No. 874. 373/2 Any metallic piece, *polychromised by his process, is covered at once with a layer of pure copper, of fine red colour, when treated with nascent hydrogen. 1882 Nature 30 Nov. 119/2 He presented pieces of gold and silver jewellery, polychromised industrially with oxides of copper, by his processes. |
| 1880 Academy 2 Oct. 245 Have reproduced this MS. in facsimile by their *polychromous phototype or light-printing in many colours. 1894 Du Maurier in Harper's Mag. Feb. 337 A polychromous decoration not unpleasing. |