Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
dephlogisticated

dephlogisticated

1 9.9
A substance early chemists thought lost phlogiston, the imagined part that makes things burn
  • adjective
  • /dɪˈflɒɡɪsteɪd/
  • Archaic
: desflogisticado
  • According to historical texts, dephlogisticated air was thought to be necessary for combustion.
  • dephlogisticated air

Examples

  • The scientist explained that dephlogisticated air, free from phlogiston, was essential for the experiment.

  • "Did I mention," asked Lord Henry casually as he flew with Nelson one night above the trees, "that dephlogisticated air is remarkably inflammable and will explode upon any contact with fire or lightning?"

    Fiction book (1995)

  • The craft had taken on a full load of dephlogisticated air, and they strained against their bonds like cavalry horses eager for battle.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • The dephlogisticated air exploded, destroying the Electra and taking out the majority of the pursuers.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • In antiquated chemical theories, substances described as dephlogisticated were believed to be more pure.

Surface Forms

dephlogisticated positive

Morphology

dephlogisticated = phlogistic (opaque) = de + phlogistic + ated

The term 'dephlogisticated' is based on an obsolete theory, making it difficult for learners to derive meaning from its components.

Etymology

Dephlogisticated breaks into de- meaning 'remove' and phlogiston, a word from an old chemistry idea that meant 'fire' or 'the part that burns'. So, to call something dephlogisticated is to say its 'fire' or 'burning part' was taken away, according to that old theory.