a. and sb. rare. [ad. L. combūrent-em, pr. pple. of combūrĕre to consume: cf. F. comburant, principe comburant, as applied by Lavoisier.] Burning (obs.): causing combustion: applied by Lavoisier, and others after him, to that element, esp. oxygen, which, in chemical combination, was supposed to cause the combustion of another body; hence the classification of comburents and combustibles. See COMBUSTION 2.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 50/1. Inscende them at a burninge and comburent candle.
1845. Grove, Contrib. Sc., in Corr. Phys. Forces, 289.
1890. trans. Jules Verne’s Barbicane & Co., xi. Formed by combination … of the principal comburents and combustibles.
