v. [f. L. liquāt-, ppl. stem of liquāre to melt, cogn. w. liquor LIQUOR.]
† 1. trans. To make liquid, cause to flow. Also intr., to become liquid, melt.
1669. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Chym., 69. Disenteries, which grating upon the tender tunicles thereof, liquates the blood from them…; at every tormenting liquation puts nature upon the rack.
a. 1728. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Fossils (1729), I. I. 10. If the Salts be not drawn forth before the Clay is baked, they … are apt to liquate afterwards. Ibid., 19. Being wet,… the Salts liquating, it becomes soft like Marle.
2. Metallurgy. To liquefy metals in order to separate them or to free them from impurities. Also to liquate out.
1864. in Webster.
1874. Raymond, Statist. Mines & Mining, 424. A liquation-furnace, used for liquating the bullion, in order to free it from such impurities as may not have been eliminated in its passage through the lead-softening furnace.
1882. T. E. Thorpe, in Nature, XXVI. 172. Heating disintegrated suet … when a clear yellow oil is (to borrow a term of the metallurgists) ‘liquated out.’
Hence Liquated ppl. a., Liquating vbl. sb.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., XIX. 700. A Bath promotes the flowing of the Blood, liquating of it.
1874. Raymond, Statist. Mines & Mining, 483. The liquated lead is completely desilverized.
