Adustive

/əˈdʌstɪv/ adjective

Definition

Causing burning or scorching; having the quality of producing heat or inflammation.

Etymology

From 'adust' or 'adustus' plus the suffix '-ive' (expressing quality or tendency). Describes things that tend to burn or create heat.

Kelly Says

Medieval alchemists distinguished between 'calefactive' (warming) and 'adustive' (actually burning) substances—a crucial difference when you're experimenting with substances that could literally burn your lab down.

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