nitre

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nitre †sodium carbonate, (now) saltpetre XIV; †supposed nitrous element in air or plants XVII. — (O)F. — L. nitrum — Gr. nitron, of Sem. or Egyptian orig. (cf. Heb. netr natron, Egyptian ntr); cf. NATRON. The comb. form is nitro-.
So nitric (-IC) applied to an acid produced by the treatment of nitrates with sulphuric acid. XVIII. — F. nitrique. nitrate (-ATE2) XVIII. — F. nitrous (-OUS) XVII. — L. nitrōsus; later — F. nitreux.

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