a. Physics. [a. F. frigorifique, ad. L. frīgorific-us cooling: see prec. and -FIC.] Producing cold, freezing; cooling.
1667. Boyle, in Phil. Trans., II. 608. A strongly frigorifick Mixture of Ice and Salt. Ibid. (1685), Effects of Mot., iv. 41. The Atomists on the other side ascribe the freezing of water to the ingress of multitudes of frigorifick corpuscles.
1789. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 195/1. Some quicksilver was again completely frozen (which is still more extraordinary) in a frigorific mixture composed of powdered salts (used in the stead of snow) dissolved in a diluted mixture of mineral acids.
1820. Scoresby, Acc. Arctic Reg., I. 364. Data for determining the frigorific effect of the ice on the temperature of the Pole.
1883. Tyndall, Count Rumford, Wks. IV. 162. He next applies himself with energy, zeal, and tenacity to prove that there are frigorific rays which act in all respects like calorific rays.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 159, 24 Sept., ¶ 7. It may indeed happen that knowledge and virtue remain too long congealed by this frigorifick power, as the principles of vegetation are sometimes obstructed by lingering frosts.
1810. Shelley, Zastrozzi, xiv. The extreme of horror seized his brain—a frigorific torpidity of despair chilled every sense, and his eyes, fixedly, gazed on vacancy.
1867. Bushnell, Mor. Uses Dark Th., 195. Their moral nature especially wants the true frigorific tension of a well-wintered life and experience.
