Also 6 -yon. [a. OF. combustion (14th c. in Littré), ad. late L. combūstiōn-em, n. of action f. combūrĕre; see COMBURE.]
1. The action or process of burning; consumption or destruction by fire. (Not common in ordinary unscientific language.)
a. 1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VII. vii. § 2. The combustion of his sanctuary … flaming before their eyes.
1609. Bible (Douay), Num. xix. 17. They shal take of the ashes of combustion and of sinne.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. xxiv. The combustion of the Library of Alexandria.
1824. Syd. Smith, America, Wks. 1867, II. 44. The faggots which each is preparing for the combustion of the other.
1867. Chr. Remembrancer, LII. 245. The combustion of incense.
† b. A conflagration, fire. Obs.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., 8. Catiline … that sought to bring it [Rome] to a combustion, or Nero … that did indeed set it on fire.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 47. Subiect it [Constantinople] hath bin to sundry horrible combustions.
1664. Etheredge, Love in Tub, IV. i. In combustions … To save their precious goods from raging fire.
† c. spec. The burning of a corpse, cremation.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XXIII. 202. Nor more mourn at his burn’d bones, Than did the great prince to his friend at his combustions.
1658. Sir T. Browne, Hydriot. (1736), I. Solemn Combustion of Meneceus and Archemorus.
d. Spontaneous combustion: the burning of a substance (or mass) from heat generated within itself; see SPONTANEOUS.
e. C. of money: ‘the old way of trying mix’d and base Money by melting it down’ (Kersey).
1695. W. Lowndes, Ess. Amendm. Silv. Coinage, 5. A constitution was made, called the Trial by combustion.
1809. Tomlins, Law Dict., I. s.v. Combustio Pecuniæ,… In the time of King Henry II. a constitution was made, called the trial by combustion; the practice of which differed little or nothing from the present method of assaying silver.
2. The ordinary term in scientific use.
As all ordinary combustion consists in the energetic combination of a body with oxygen, with evolution of heat and light, this was alone contemplated in earlier definitions of the term; but since it has been known that similar phenomena attend the combination of other elements, e.g., that of hydrogen and metals with chlorine, bromine, and iodine, combustion has been defined more generally as ‘The development of light and heat accompanying chemical combination.’
Formerly, oxygen was regarded as essentially the supporter of combustion, the bodies that burned in it being called combustibles. Afterwards the former term was extended to all substances capable of forming vapors in which others can burn, as chlorine, bromine, iodine, sulphur; but since the same substance may sometimes act in both capacities, and since the vapors in question are actually consumed in the process, as truly as the so-called ‘combustible,’ the distinction has gradually become obsolete. (Watts, etc.) Cf. COMBURENT.
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., v., in Ashm. (1652), 64. Of such Combustion greate hardnes shall be.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 269. Combustion is ignition, converting bodies by burning them into Calx.
1794. Sullivan, View Nat., I. 171. It has long been ascertained, that combustion will not take place unless it be nourished by air.
1811. Hooper, Med. Dict., 220/2, s.v., The supporters of combustion known at present are … six. Oxigen gas, Air, Gaseous oxid of nitrogen, Nitrous gas, Nitric acid, Oxigenated muriatic acid.
1842. Grove, Corr. Phys. Forces (ed. 6), 76. Combustion being in fact chemical union attended with heat and light.
1853. W. Gregory, Inorg. Chem. (ed. 3), 47. Combustion, or the combination of a combustible with oxygen.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 106. Being neither combustible like the one, nor a supporter of combustion like the other.
b. In the sense of ‘combination of a body with oxygen,’ the word has been applied to processes of oxidation unaccompanied by evolution of light, and not popularly considered as ‘burning,’ such as take place in the tissues of organisms (Internal combustion), in decomposing organic matter, etc.
1800. Med. Jrnl., IV. 561. Every combination of an acid with other substances, is a process of combustion, which cannot take place without the combination of the oxygen with the combustible element.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 80. A kind of slow combustion goes on in the body.
1882. Vines, Sachs’ Bot., 722. The decomposition of the non-nitrogenous reserve material and its combustion into carbon dioxide and water.
1882. Syd. Soc. Lex., Internal combustion, those processes of oxidation … which effect the maintenance of the animal heat.
c. An operation consisting in the complete burning of a substance in a combustion-tube: used in quantitative analysis.
1863–72. Watts, Dict. Chem., I. 227. When the temperature required for a combustion is very high, the tube should be protected.
1885. Sir R. Christison, in Life, I. 273. I had successfully finished my first combustion.
† 3. Path. a. A burn; b. inflammation. Obs.
1541. Copland, Guydon’s Formul., T ij b. Vnguentum … merueylous to consolydate and drye the conbustyons and woundes of synewes.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 332. Take Lintseede … and applye it on the combustion. Some doe onlye annoynte the burne with Linteseede oyle. Ibid., 334/1. Heerewith annoynte the combustion both eveninge, and morninge. Ibid., 335/1. This draweth out the heate and combustion, and then it cureth.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. iv. III. ii. Cauteries or searings with hot yrons, combustions, boarings.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 68. Combustion of the joynts, will admit of no sharp remedies.
† 4. Astrol. Obscuration of a planet or star by proximity to the sun. Obs. See COMBUST a. 2.
1551. Recorde, Cast. Knowl. (1556), 196. The darkenynge or hidynge of the starre … within 15 degrees of the Sonne … is called of many men Combustion.
1642. Howell, For. Trav. (Arb.), 44. Some [Countreyes] are seated like Mercury amongst the Planets, who for the most part is either in combustion or obscurity, being under brighter beames than its own.
1647. Lilly, Chr. Astrol., xxvi. 165. Her Dispositor was in his Detriment, and entring Combustion.
1743. E. Stone, Math. Dict., s.v., A Planet … not above eight Degrees and Thirty Minutes distant from the Sun … is said then to be combust, or in Combustion.
1721–97. in Bailey.
5. fig. and transf.
a. with explicit reference to sense 1.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, III. i. (1840), 115. By their pious tears to quench the combustions in the empire.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 87. This poured oil on the fire … and put all in combustion.
1778. Robertson, Hist. Amer., II. VI. 265. Where there were disappointed leaders ripe for revolt … it was not difficult to kindle combustion.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. III. i. In spiritual invisible combustion [mounts up] one authority after another.
b. Violent excitement or commotion, disorder, confusion, tumult, hubbub. (Exceedingly common in 17th and 18th c.)
1589. Cooper, Admon., 45. Seeking to set al in combustion with schisme.
1605. Shaks., Macb., II. iii. 63. Prophecying … Of dyre Combustion, and confus’d Euents.
1640–4. in Rushw., Hist. Coll., III. (1692), I. 477. The House required the five Members to depart … to the end to avoid Combustion in the House.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 225. Armie against Armie numberless to raise Dreadful combustion warring.
1762. Hume, Hist. Eng. (1806), IV. liv. 204. A new discovery … served to throw every thing into still greater shame and combustion.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xi. The inn-yard was in a sort of combustion.
1846. Prescott, Ferd. & Is., I. v. 246 He again prepared to throw his country into combustion.
c. (with a and pl.)
1579. Fenton, Guicciard. (1599), 942. Fearing a greater combustion, they came to composition.
1649. Milton, Eikon., Pref. (1851), 334. The beginning of these Combustions [civil wars].
1722. De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 273. I heard a combustion among the women-servants.
1815. Byron, in Moore, Life, 382. Whitbread wants us to assess the pit another sixpence … which will end in an O.P. combustion.
6. Comb. Combustion-tube, a tube of hard glass in which a substance may be reduced by combustion.
1863–72. Watts, Dict. Chem., I. 227. Combustion-tubes … the best are made of the hard Bohemian glass.
1877. Fownes’ Chem., II. 10. The mode of heating the combustion tube with red hot charcoal is the original process.
