v. [ad. F. vitrifier (16th c.), or med.L. *vitrificāre (Sp. and Pg. vitrificar, It. vit-, vetrificare), f. vitr-um glass: see -FY.]
1. trans. To convert into glass or a glass-like substance; to render vitreous by fusion due to heat.
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., I. 25. Stones which … endure the strength of fire, and are not consumed therewith, but rather vitrified.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., I. I. xxix. Surely, that grand Universal-fire … at the day of judgment may by its violent ardor vitrifie and turn to one lump of Crystal, the whole Body of the Earth.
1665. Hooke, Microgr., 45. Sometimes also is that heat so very intense, as further to melt it and vitrifie it.
1690. T. Burnet, Theory Earth, II. 46. Clayey soils, and such like, may by the strength of fire be converted into brick, or stone, or earthen metal, and so melted down and vitrified.
1728. in 6th Rep. Dep. Kpr. Rec., App. II. 118. Vitrifying the dross of metals so as to mould the same like Bricks or Tiles.
1750. Franklin, Lett., etc., Wks. 1840, V. 239. The metal appeared to have been not only melted, but even vitrified.
1800. trans. Lagrange’s Chem., I. 418. This glass pierces crucibles and vitrifies them.
1863. A. C. Ramsay, Phys. Geog., iv. (1878), 39. Shales, sandstones, &c., are often … vitrified at the points of junction with greenstone, basaltic, and felspathic rocks.
1866. Livingstone, Last Jrnls. (1873), I. iii. 79. The clay pipes … are met with everywhere, often vitrified.
fig. a. 1618. Raleigh, Rem. (1657), 155. Every ordinarie wit can vitrifie, and make transparent pierce, and discern their corruptions.
a. 1678. Marvell, Appleton House, Wks. 1786, III. 221. By her flames, in heaven try’d, Nature is wholly vitrify’d.
1846. Mrs. Gore, Eng. Char. (1852), 102. The soys, ketchups,… and other … compounds, with whose astringent juices we vitrify the coats of our stomachs.
absol. 1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 54. That … so small a fire can vitrify, will be better understood by him that knows how small a heat at a Lamp-Furnace will melt Glass.
2. intr. To become vitreous; to turn into glass or a substance resembling this.
a. 1626. Bacon, Physiol. Rem. (1679), 101. We see Metals will vitrify.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 103. These are apt to vitrifie, and make Glass and Crystal withal.
1770. Phil. Trans., LX. 226. I imagined that metals might not calcine or vitrify except in the same circumstances.
1813. Sir H. Davy, Agric. Chem. (1814), 328. Such lime easily vitrifies, in consequence of the affinity of lime for silica and alumina.
1876. Page, Adv. Text-bk. Geol., xiv. 252. Resisting heat without slagging or vitrifying.
Hence Vitrifying vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1674. Boyle, Grounds Corpusc. Philos., 32. So strictly united … as to maintain their union in the vitrifying violence of the fire.
1756. F. Home, Exper. Bleaching, 155. The heat was just below the vitrifying point.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 1019. White vitrifying pastes, fit for receiving all sorts of metallic colours. Ibid., 1159. The vitrifying colours are laid on by means of larger hair pencils.
