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Any substance which dissolves a solid body; a solvent. The proper menstruum to dissolve metal. Bacon. All liquors are called menstruums which are used as dissolvents, or to extract the virtues of ingredients by infusion or decoction. Quincy.

The fabled "universal solvent" of the alchemists; a menstruum capable of dissolving all bodies. -- Al`ka*hes"tic, a.

Corrosion is a particular species of dissolution of bodies, either by an acid or a saline menstruum. John Quincy.

ich has the power of dissolving or melting other substances, esp. by mixture with them; a menstruum; a solvent. Melted in the crucible dissolvents. A. Smith. The secret treaty of December acted as an immediate dissolvent to the truce. Mothley.

le battery. -- Fixed bodies, those which can not be volatilized or separated by a common menstruum, without great difficulty, as gold, platinum, lime, etc. -- Fixed capital. See the Note under Capital, n., 4. -- Fixed fact, a well established fact. [Colloq.] -- Fixed light, one which emits constant beams; -- disting…

rts are expressed from them; the grounds which remain after treating a substance with any menstruum, as water or alcohol.

Of or pertaining to a menstruum. Bacon.

To change form suddenly; especially, to solidify. If the menstruum be overcharged, metals will shoot into crystals. Bacon.