[f. VITRESCENT a.: see -ENCE.] The state of becoming vitreous or glassy; vitrified or vitreous condition.
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), I. 279. Mineral alkali promotes their [sc. zeolytes] vitrescence most, next borax, microcosmic salt least.
1888. Encycl. Brit., XXIV. 264/1. The vitrescence was produced by beacon fires lighted during times of invasion.
1903. Academy, 24 Jan., 75/2. The difficulty in most cases arises from the high vitrescence of surface [of Chinese porcelain].
So Vitrescency. rare.
1756. F. Home, Exper. Bleaching, 116. Their junction with oils, and their vitrescency.
1847. H. Miller, Rambles Geol. (1858), 365. They are artificial structures, in which vitrescency was designedly induced.
