English Explanatory Dictionary

vitriol

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of various metal sulphates.
  2. oil of vitriol (sulfuric acid).
  3. Bitterly abusive language.
verb
  1. To subject to bitter verbal abuse.
  2. To dip in dilute sulfuric acid; to pickle.
  3. To vitriolize.

Pronunciation

/ˈvɪtɹiəl/ /ˈvɪtɹiɑl/ /ˈvɪtɹiɒl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-vitriol.wav

Word forms

vitriol vitriols vitrioling vitriolling vitrioled vitriolled

Etymology

From Middle English vitriol, from Old French vitriol, from Medieval Latin vitriolum (“sulfuric acid”), from vitrum (“glass”).

Synonyms

abuse call names vituperate flame name-call revile vitriol

Related words

vitreous

Derived words

blue vitriol copper vitriol elixir of vitriol green vitriol hurl vitriol iron vitriol oil of vitriol red vitriol Roman vitriol salt of vitriol spirit of vitriol vitriolage vitriolate vitriol attack vitriolic vitriolize vitriol of Mars white vitriol
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