a. [f. CYAN- 2 + -IC.]
1. Chem. Of cyanogen, containing cyanogen in composition. Cyanic acid, a colorless, pungent, volatile, unstable liquid (CNHO). Cyanic ethers, the cyanates of the alcohol radicals.
1832. Sir R. Christison, Poisons, xxviii. (ed. 2), 663. Cyanic and Cyanous acids are not poisonous.
1869. Roscoe, Elem. Chem., 378. Cyanic acid itself cannot be prepared in the free state from its salts.
2. Blue, azure; a. in Path., of a diseased condition of the skin, etc.; b. in Bot., one of the two series into which Candolle divided the colors of flowers (the other being xanthic = yellow).
1849–52. Todd, Cycl. Anat., IV. 1455/2. A soldier … attracted particular attention on account of the cyanic colour of his sclerotica.
1879. Edin. Rev., CL. 382. Some whites belong to the xanthic, and some to the cyanic, group of colours.
