a. and sb. [ad. L. adulterant-em pr. pple. of adulterā-re: see ADULTER v. Prop. an adj., but usually subst.]
A. sb. That which adulterates, or is employed to adulterate anything. (J. says ‘The person or thing which adulterates’; but it does not seem ever to have been used in Eng. of a person.)
1755. Johnson, n.q.
1861. Jrnl. Soc. Arts, IX. 488/2. Mr. John Horsley of Cheltenham has also found copper as an adulterant in the bread and flour of that place.
1881. A. Griffiths, Sc. Gossip, No. 203. 248. By a careful microscopical examination these adulterants can be easily found out.
B. adj. Adulterating.
1881. Philad. Rec., No. 3470. 2. Adulterant agents and processes rest on no better principle than short measures and false weights.
