Definition
orpiment
noun
- a bright yellow mineral form of arsenic sulfide, used historically as a pigment and in traditional medicine.
Usage: chemistry; art history
Examples
- Medieval painters used orpiment to create vibrant yellow hues in their manuscripts.
- Orpiment was valued in ancient Egypt for both its color and its supposed medicinal properties.
- The mineral orpiment occurs naturally in volcanic regions and hot springs.
- Due to its arsenic content, orpiment is toxic and is no longer used in modern art supplies.
- Chemists identified orpiment as a compound of arsenic and sulfur in the 19th century.