The word for today is…
mordant (adjective, noun, verb):
adjective
1 : biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style
2 : acting as a mordant (as in dyeing)
3 : burning, pungent
noun
1 : a chemical that fixes a dye in or on a substance by combining with the dye to form an insoluble compound
2 : a corroding substance used in etching
verb
: to treat with a mordant
Source : Merriam -Webster
Etymology : The etymology of mordant certainly has some bite to it. That word, which came to modern English through Middle French, ultimately derives from the Latin verb mordere, which means “to bite.” In modern parlance, mordant usually suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness. Mordere puts the bite into other English terms, too. For instance, that root gave us the tasty morsel (“a tiny bite”). But nibble too many of those and you’ll likely be hit by another mordere derivative: remorse (“guilt for past wrongs”), which comes from Latin remordere, meaning “to bite again.”
If you enjoyed this BFD word of the day please consider sharing it with your friends and, especially, your children.
