Tincture (pronounced tingk-cher)
(1) In pharmacology,
a solution of alcohol or of alcohol and water, containing animal, vegetable, or
chemical drugs (an alcohol solution of a non-volatile medicine (obsolete)).
(2) A slight
infusion, as of some element or quality.
(3) A trace;
a smack or smattering; tinge.
(4) In heraldry,
any of the colors, metals, or furs used for the fields, charges etc, of an
escutcheon or achievement of arms.
(5) A dye
or pigment (obsolete).
(6) To
impart a tint or color to; tinge.
(7) To imbue
or infuse with something.
(8) A
slight flavour, aroma, or trace
1350–1400:
From the Middle English, a borrowing from the Latin tīnctūra (dyeing) (the verb tingo)
from tingere (to dye), the original
construct being tinct + -ure (like –ing and –tion, a suffix used
in Latin to form nouns relating to the action of specified verbs. Tingo is from the primitive Indo-European
teng- (to soak, dip) and was cognate
with the Ancient Greek τέγγω (téngō). From this root Modern English has picked up
tint, taint and tainture (an obsolete synonym of tincture).
Meaning shift
The historic meaning of tincture (a synonym for dye or pigment) is now entirely obsolete; a tincture is now a subtle shade, tint or variation of an original colour or a smattering of another. It can be applied to any field vaguely analogous such as tastes or aromas and can be used pejoratively to suggest someone’s knowledge of something might be less than advertised.
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