DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Men·stru·um n.; pl. E. Menstruums L. Menstrua   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.
 Note: ☞ The use is supposed to have originated in some notion of the old chemists about the influence of the moon in the preparation of dissolvents.
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