Word of the Day

: July 9, 2007

tincture

noun TINK-cher

What It Means

1 : color, tint

2 a : a characteristic quality : cast

b : a slight admixture : trace

3 : a solution of a medicinal substance in an alcoholic solvent

tincture in Context

Mabel's stories contain just the right tincture of macabre humor to be enjoyed by readers young and old alike.

Did You Know?

"Tincture" derives from the same root as "tint" and "tinge" -- the Latin verb "tingere," meaning "to moisten or dip." "Tincture" specifically derives via Middle English from the Latin "tinctus," the past participle of "tingere." When the word first appeared in English in the 14th century, "tincture" referred to a coloring matter or dye, but by the 17th century the word had acquired a number of additional meanings, including "a slight infusion or trace of something." "Tinge" and "shade" are two other words referring to color that can be used the same way. "Tincture" can also refer, among other things, to the colors used in a coat of arms or an herbal or medicinal solution.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.