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Definition of mordant adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

mordant

adjective
 
/ˈmɔːdnt/
 
/ˈmɔːrdnt/
(formal)
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  1. critical and unkind, but funny synonym caustic
    • His mordant wit appealed to students.
    Topics Personal qualitiesc2
    Oxford Collocations DictionaryMordant is used with these nouns:
    • wit
    See full entry
    Word Originlate 15th cent.: from French, present participle of mordre ‘to bite’, from Latin mordere.
See mordant in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
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