# Looking for a definition of "solvent to" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2019, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-definition-of-solvent-to/839039 "2019-08-22T03:45:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-definition-of-solvent-to/839039/1 "2019-08-22T03:45:17Z")
Hi, I’m looking for a definition of “solvent” in the context of " their ideas…constituted an effective solvent to the values and institution of the old society" I look forward to your feedback. adjective 1. capable of meeting financial obligations 2. (of a substance, esp a liquid) capable of dissolving another substance noun 3. a liquid capable of dissolving another substance water is a solvent for salt 4. the component of a solution that does not change its state in forming the solution or the component that is present in excess Compare solute 5. something that solves European Intellectual History from Rousseau to Nietzsche > **[European Intellectual History from Rousseau to Nietzsche](https://books.google.co.jp/books?id=dOFtBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA41&lpg=PA41&dq=%22solvent%2Bto%2Bthe%2Bvalues%2Band%2Binstitutions%22&source=bl&ots=cUQTKnW5k7&sig=ACfU3U0P06QV85Y4gAiU2SJL_bE5aPebfA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjfyuenxpXkAhWJiOAKHQH3CIIQ6AEwAHoECAAQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22solvent%20to%20the%20values%20and%20institutions%22&f=false)** > > One of the most distinguished cultural and intellectual historians of our time, Frank Turner taught a landmark Yale University lecture course on European intellectual history that drew scores of students over many years. His lectures—lucid,... ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-definition-of-solvent-to/839039/2 "2019-08-22T03:54:19Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Hi, > > I’m looking for a definition of “solvent” in the context of " their ideas…constituted an effective solvent to the values and institution of the old society" > I look forward to your feedback. > > adjective > 1. > capable of meeting financial obligations > 2. > (of a substance, esp a liquid) capable of dissolving another substance > noun > 3. > a liquid capable of dissolving another substance > water is a solvent for salt > 4. > the component of a solution that does not change its state in forming the solution or the component that is present in excess > Compare solute > 5. > something that solves > European Intellectual History from Rousseau to Nietzsche > > [European Intellectual History from Rousseau to Nietzsche - Frank M. Turner - Google Books](https://books.google.co.jp/books?id=dOFtBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA41&lpg=PA41&dq=%22solvent+to+the+values+and+institutions%22&source=bl&ots=cUQTKnW5k7&sig=ACfU3U0P06QV85Y4gAiU2SJL_bE5aPebfA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjfyuenxpXkAhWJiOAKHQH3CIIQ6AEwAHoECAAQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22solvent%20to%20the%20values%20and%20institutions%22&f=false) Does “solvent” refer to a remediation of/improvement on " the values and institution of the old society"? ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-definition-of-solvent-to/839039/3 "2019-08-22T06:09:28Z")
I would think it means that the ideas were destructive of the old values/institutions - they weakened, dissolved, eroded them. But a fuller context might suggest a different reading. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-definition-of-solvent-to/839039/4 "2019-08-22T08:28:53Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > I would think it means that the ideas were destructive of the old values/institutions - they weakened, dissolved, eroded them. But a fuller context might suggest a different reading. Yes. I believe your interpretation makes sense. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-definition-of-solvent-to/839039/5 "2019-08-22T12:58:31Z")
IMO, “solvent for …” (as in definition #3) seems better than “solvent to …” - the latter sounds awkward. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-definition-of-solvent-to/839039/6 "2019-08-22T13:29:16Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Hi, > > I’m looking for a definition of “solvent” in the context of " their ideas…constituted an effective solvent to the values and institution of the old society" > I look forward to your feedback. > > adjective > 1. > capable of meeting financial obligations > 2. > (of a substance, esp a liquid) capable of dissolving another substance > noun > 3. > a liquid capable of dissolving another substance > water is a solvent for salt > 4. > the component of a solution that does not change its state in forming the solution or the component that is present in excess > Compare solute > 5. > something that solves > European Intellectual History from Rousseau to Nietzsche > > [European Intellectual History from Rousseau to Nietzsche - Frank M. Turner - Google Books](https://books.google.co.jp/books?id=dOFtBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA41&lpg=PA41&dq=%22solvent+to+the+values+and+institutions%22&source=bl&ots=cUQTKnW5k7&sig=ACfU3U0P06QV85Y4gAiU2SJL_bE5aPebfA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjfyuenxpXkAhWJiOAKHQH3CIIQ6AEwAHoECAAQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22solvent%20to%20the%20values%20and%20institutions%22&f=false) On first read it seems clear to me that “solvent” is a noun meaning that thing which dissolves another thing. I can’t see how it could possibly be an adjective in that context, since it’s unclear what that adjective would be modifying. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-definition-of-solvent-to/839039/7 "2019-08-22T16:34:24Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > IMO, “solvent for …” (as in definition #3) seems better than “solvent to …” - the latter sounds awkward. “Solvent to”, “solvent upon”, “solvent for”, “solvent of”, … there is some working room here. I agree that the meaning “a dissolving or disintegrating influence” is what first comes to mind, unless the context suggests otherwise. I wonder, though: what is the difference between a “solve” (the noun) and a “solution”? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-definition-of-solvent-to/839039/8 "2019-08-22T17:52:18Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > “Solvent to”, “solvent upon”, “solvent for”, “solvent of”, … there is some working room here. > > I agree that the meaning “a dissolving or disintegrating influence” is what first comes to mind, unless the context suggests otherwise. > > I wonder, though: what is the difference between a “solve” (the noun) and a “solution”? The 3 words you’re looking for are solvent, solute, and solution. The solute is the minor ingredient in a solution, the solvent is the major ingredient, and the solution is what you wind up with. So salt=solute, water=solvent, brine=solution. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-definition-of-solvent-to/839039/9 "2019-08-22T18:09:38Z")
I don’t see any chemical meaning for “solve” in this sense. The Oxford English Dictionary simply defines solve (noun) as “solution”, with a quote from Shakespeare, and strongly suggests it is a variant of “soil” meaning “the solution of a problem”. The difference might be that solve/soil is old-fashioned or obsolete: Wiktionary says “now rare, chiefly law enforcement”, with quotes like “Good solve, Detective,” “Nice solve, Nancy Drew.” Similarly, “fail” for “failure” is marked obsolete or slang except for the phrase “without fail”.