phlogistian

English

Etymology

From phlogist(on) +‎ -ian.

Noun

phlogistian (plural phlogistians)

  1. A believer in the existence of phlogiston.
    • 1810, George Wilson, “General Sketch of Cavendish's Scientific Researches and Discoveries”, in The Life of the Honble Henry Cavendish, page 39:
      It [air] was liable, according to the phlogistians, to vitiation, by the addition to it of phlogiston, […]
    • 2007, Charles Mollan, “William Higgins (1763-1825)”, in It's Part of What We Are (Science and Irish Culture; 3), volume 1, Dublin: Royal Dublin Society, →ISBN, page 236:
      Bryan Higgins was a "phlogistian", while William, correctly as it turned out, didn't believe in the concept.

Adjective

phlogistian (not comparable)

  1. Of or pertaining to phlogiston or phlogiston theory.
    • 1894 July 13, “Notices of Books”, in William Crookes, editor, The Chemical News and Journal of Physical Science, volume 70, number 1807:
      In Davy's time it was still necessary in considering any novel fact to keep the phlogistian hypothesis in view, and to demonstrate its inability to explain the new discoveries.

Synonyms

Antonyms

References

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