Both Uses of
corrosive
in
Ulysses, by James Joyce
- STEPHEN: (Panting) His noncorrosive sublimate!†
Chpt 15noncorrosive = not damaging or harmfulstandard prefix: The prefix "non-" in noncorrosive means not and reverses the meaning of corrosive. This is the same pattern you see in words like nonfat, nonfiction, and nonprofit.
- After completion of laconic epistolary compositions she abandoned the implement of calligraphy in the encaustic pigment, exposed to the corrosive action of copperas, green vitriol and nutgall.†
Chpt 17 *corrosive = damaging or harmful OR (more rarely) something causing damage or harm
Definitions:
-
(1)
(corrosive) damaging or harmful -- such as when describing a strong acid or bad behavior
or (more rarely):
something causing damage or harm -- such as a strong acid -
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Much more rarely, corrosive can describe a hurtful sarcasm or personality.