%cerin%

n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of an ancient religious sect, so called from Cerinthus, a Jew, who attempted to unite the doctrines of Christ with the opinions of the Jews and Gnostics. Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. [ Fluo- + cerium. ] (Min.) A fluoride of cerium, occuring near Fahlun in Sweden. Tynosite, from Colorado, is probably the same mineral. [ 1913 Webster ]

/mhw>, n. [ F. glycérine, fr. Gr. glykero`s, glyky`s, sweet. Cf. Glucose, Licorice. ] (Chem.) An oily, viscous liquid, C3H5(OH)3, colorless and odorless, and with a hot, sweetish taste, existing in the natural fats and oils as the base, combined with various acids, as oleic, margaric, stearic, and palmitic. It may be obtained by saponification of fats and oils. It is a triatomic alcohol, and hence is also called glycerol. See Note under Gelatin. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is obtained from fats by saponification, or, on a large scale, by the action of superheated steam. It is used as an ointment, as a solvent and vehicle for medicines, and as an adulterant in wine, beer, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Nitro- + glycerin. ] (Chem.) A liquid appearing like a heavy oil, colorless or yellowish, and consisting of a mixture of several glycerin salts of nitric acid, and hence more properly called glycerin nitrate; also called trinitroglycerin and glyceryl trinitrate. It is made by the action of nitric acid on glycerin in the presence of sulphuric acid. It is extremely unstable and terribly explosive. A very dilute solution is used in medicine as a neurotic under the name of glonion. [ Written also nitroglycerine. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A great number of explosive compounds have been produced by mixing nitroglycerin with different substances; as, dynamite, or giant powder, nitroglycerin mixed with siliceous earth; lithofracteur, nitroglycerin with gunpowder, or with sawdust and nitrate of sodium or barium; Colonia powder, gunpowder with nitroglycerin; dualin, nitroglycerin with sawdust, or with sawdust and nitrate of potassium and some other substances; lignose, wood fiber and nitroglycerin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. Ononis, the generic name of the plant + L. cera wax. ] (Chem.) A white crystalline waxy substance extracted from the root of the leguminous plant Ononis spinosa. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Act or practice of using sorcery. [ 1913 Webster ]