[syn: sultry, stifling, sulfurous, sulphurous]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Sulphurous \Sul"phur*ous\, a. [L. sulphurosus, sulfurosus: cf.
F. sulfureux.]
1. Of or pertaining to sulphur.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Chem.)
(a) Derived from, or containing, sulphur; specifically,
designating those compounds in which the element has a
lower valence as contrasted with the sulphuric
compounds.
(b) Having the characteristic odor of sulphur dioxide, or
of hydrogen sulphide, or of other sulphur compounds.
[1913 Webster]
Sulphurous acid.
(a) Sulphur dioxide. See under Sulphur. [Obs.]
(b) An acid, H2SO3, not known in the free state except
as a solution of sulphur dioxide in water, but forming
a well-known series of salts (the sulphites).
Sulphurous anhydride (Chem.), sulphur dioxide. See under
Sulphur.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
sulphurous
adj 1: of or related to or containing sulfur or derived from
sulfur [syn: sulfurous, sulphurous]
2: harsh or corrosive in tone; "an acerbic tone piercing
otherwise flowery prose"; "a barrage of acid comments"; "her
acrid remarks make her many enemies"; "bitter words";
"blistering criticism"; "caustic jokes about political
assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics"; "a
sulfurous denunciation"; "a vitriolic critique" [syn:
acerb, acerbic, acid, acrid, bitter, blistering,
caustic, sulfurous, sulphurous, virulent,
vitriolic]
3: characterized by oppressive heat and humidity; "the summer
was sultry and oppressive"; "the stifling atmosphere"; "the
sulfurous atmosphere preceding a thunderstorm" [syn:
sultry, stifling, sulfurous, sulphurous]