Astringent
Astringent (-jent) , adjective
[Latin astringens, present participle of astringere: compare French astringent. See Astringe.]
1.
Drawing together the tissues; binding; contracting; -- opposed to laxative; as, astringent medicines; a butter and astringent taste; astringent fruit.
2.
Stern; austere; as, an astringent type of virtue.
Astringent , noun
A medicine or other substance that produces contraction in the soft organic textures, and checks discharges of blood, mucus, etc.
External astringents are called styptics.