Sulphurous

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Sulphurous \Sul"phur*ous\, a. [L. sulphurosus, sulfurosus: cf.
     F. sulfureux.]
     1. Of or pertaining to sulphur.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Chem.)


        (a) Derived from, or containing, sulphur; specifically,
            designating those compounds in which the element has a
            lower valence as contrasted with the sulphuric
            compounds.
        (b) Having the characteristic odor of sulphur dioxide, or
            of hydrogen sulphide, or of other sulphur compounds.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     {Sulphurous acid}.
        (a) Sulphur dioxide. See under {Sulphur}. [Obs.]
        (b) An acid, {H2SO3}, not known in the free state except
            as a solution of sulphur dioxide in water, but forming
            a well-known series of salts (the sulphites).
  
     {Sulphurous anhydride} (Chem.), sulphur dioxide. See under
        {Sulphur}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  sulphurous
       adj 1: harsh or corrosive in tone; "an acerbic tone piercing
              otherwise flowery prose"; "a barrage of acid
              comments"; "her acrid remarks make her many enemies";
              "bitter words"; "blistering criticism"; "caustic jokes
              about political assassination, talk-show hosts and
              medical ethics"; "a sulfurous denunciation" [syn: {acerb},
               {acerbic}, {acid}, {acrid}, {bitter}, {blistering}, {caustic},
               {sulfurous}, {venomous}, {virulent}, {vitriolic}]
       2: characterized by oppressive heat and humidity; "the summer
          was sultry and oppressive"; "the stifling atmosphere";
          "the sulfurous atmosphere preceding a thunderstorm" [syn:
          {sultry}, {stifling}, {sulfurous}]