Phosphorous adj. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to phosphorus; resembling or containing phosphorus; specifically, designating those compounds in which phosphorus has a lower valence as contrasted with phosphoric compounds; as, phosphorous acid, H3PO3.
... lamp. I scratched a match. It did not catch fire, the phosphorous end breaking off. I threw it away and waited a moment, ... — The Inferno • Henri Barbusse
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