Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Arsenic \Ar*sen"ic\, a. (Chem.)
Pertaining to, or derived from, arsenic; -- said of those
compounds of arsenic in which this element has its highest
equivalence; as, arsenic acid.
Arsenic \Ar"se*nic\ ([aum]r"s[-e]*n[i^]k; 277), n. [L.
arsenicum, Gr. 'arseniko`n, 'arreniko`n, yellow orpiment,
perh. fr. 'arseniko`s or better Attic 'arreniko`s masculine,
'a`rrhn male, on account of its strength, or fr. Per.
zern[=i]kh: cf. F. arsenic.]
1. (Chem.) One of the elements, a solid substance resembling
a metal in its physical properties, but in its chemical
relations ranking with the nonmetals. It is of a
steel-gray color and brilliant luster, though usually dull
from tarnish. It is very brittle, and sublimes at 356[deg]
Fahrenheit. It is sometimes found native, but usually
combined with silver, cobalt, nickel, iron, antimony, or
sulphur. Orpiment and realgar are two of its sulphur
compounds, the first of which is the true arsenicum of the
ancients. The element and its compounds are active
poisons. Specific gravity from 5.7 to 5.9. Atomic weight
75. Symbol As.
2. (Com.) Arsenious oxide or arsenious anhydride; -- called
also {arsenious acid}, {white arsenic}, and {ratsbane}.
Source : WordNet®
arsenic
n 1: a very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic
forms; arsenic and arsenic compounds are used as
herbicides and insecticides and various alloys; found in
arsenopyrite and orpiment and realgar [syn: {As}, {atomic
number 33}]
2: a white powdered poisonous trioxide of arsenic; used in
manufacturing glass and as a pesticide and weed killer
[syn: {arsenic trioxide}, {arsenous anhydride}, {arsenous
oxide}]