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Webster 1913 Edition


Margaric

Mar-gar′ic

,
Adj.
[Cf. F.
margarique
. See
Margarite
.]
Pertaining to, or resembling, pearl; pearly.
Margaric acid
.
(a)
(Physiol. Chem.)
A fatty body, crystallizing in pearly scales, and obtained by digesting saponified fats (soaps) with an acid. It was formerly supposed to be an individual fatty acid, but is now known to be simply an intimate mixture of stearic and palmitic acids.
(b)
(Chem.)
A white, crystalline substance,
C17H34O2
of the
fatty acid
series, intermediate between palmitic and stearic acids, and obtained from the wax of certain lichens, from cetyl cyanide, and other sources. Called also
heptadecanoic acid
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Margaric

MARGAR'IC

,
Adj.
[supra.] Pertaining to pearl. The margaric acid is obtained by digesting soap made of hog's lard and potash, in water. It appears in the form of pearly scales.

Definition 2024


margaric

margaric

English

Adjective

margaric (comparative more margaric, superlative most margaric)

  1. Pertaining to pearl or pearls (rare except in designation of margaric acid).
    • 1971, Anthony Burgess, M/F (Penguin 2004), page 31:
      The men in her life were all swine before whom she'd cast the margaric treasures of her mind and body.

Derived terms