online medical dictionary | definition of xanthic

1. Tending toward a yellow colour, or to one of those colours, green being excepted, in which yellow is a constituent, as scarlet, orange, etc.

<botany> Xanthic colours, those colours (of flowers) having some tinge of yellow; opposed to cyanic colours. See Cyanic.

2. <chemistry> Possessing, imparting, or producing a yellow colour; as, xanthic acid. Of or pertaining to xanthic acid, or its compounds; xanthogenic. Of or pertaining to xanthin.

<chemistry> Xanthic acid, a heavy, astringent, colourless oil, C2H5O.CS.SH, having a pungent odour. It is produced by leading carbon disulphide into a hot alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide. So called from the yellow colour of many of its salts. Called also xanthogenic acid.

Origin: Gr. Xanqos = yellow: cf. F. Xanthique.

(01 Mar 1998)