cuprine en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /-ɹin/
- /-ɹaɪn/
- /ˈkjupɹɪn/
- /ˈkup-/
Etymology
Ultimately from Latin cuprum (“copper”). See -ine.
Meanings
-
(not-comparable, obsolete, possibly) Synonym of cupric (“pertaining to or derived from copper”).
We must not here omit a water in Germany, which is ordinarily supposed to change iron into copper. The truth is, there is no real conversion of the metal; that that is done is, that the cuprine and vitriolic particles in the water corrode the iron; and, detaching parts of them by means of the motion of the water, coppery particles succeed in their room.
1819, Abraham Rees, The Cyclopædia, Or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, ...: