vesicant
|ves-i-cant|
🇺🇸
/ˈvɛzɪkənt/
🇬🇧
/ˈvɛzɪk(ə)nt/
cause blisters
Etymology
'vesicant' originates from New Latin/Modern Latin, specifically from the verb 'vesicare' (from Latin), where 'vesica' meant 'blister' or 'bladder'.
'vesicant' developed from the Latin root 'vesica' → Medieval/Scientific Latin 'vesicare' (to form blisters) and then into English as the noun/adjective 'vesicant' in medical and chemical usage.
Initially it referred broadly to things relating to blisters (from Latin 'blister, bladder'), and over time it came to specifically mean 'a substance that causes blisters' or 'causing blisters' in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a substance that causes blisters on contact; a blistering agent (especially a chemical agent).
Medical personnel treated victims exposed to a vesicant during the chemical attack.
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Antonyms
Adjective 1
causing blisters; producing vesication.
The compound is highly vesicant and can cause severe skin damage.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/11 19:03