Definition of "asbestus" [as•bes•tus]

• Dated form of asbestos. (noun)

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• "Pliny, the Roman naturalist, says he has seen napkins of asbestus taken soiled from the table after a feast, which were thrown into the fire, and by that means better scoured than if they had been washed with water."
• "There are several species of this mineral, which are distinguished by different names, according to the appearance of each, as fibrous asbestus, hard asbestus, and woody asbestus; it is the fibrous sort which is most noted for its uses in the arts."
• "Stones also differ in their weight or gravity: for instance, some of the asbestus kind are _lighter_ than water."