Fulminate | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Fūl′mi-nāte, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. FULMINATED; p. pr. & vb. n. FULMINATING.] [Lat. fulminare, fulminatum, to lighten, to strike with lightning, from fulmen, thunderbolt, for fulgimen, from fulgere, to shine; It. fulminare, Pr., Sp., & Pg. fulminar, Fr. fulminer.

To thunder; hence, to make a loud, sudden noise; to detonate; to explode with a violent report; as, fulminating mercury.
To issue, utter, or send forth decrees or censures with publicity or violence, or with the assumption of supreme authority; to thunder forth menaces.

Fŭl’mi-nāte, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To cause to explode. Sprat. 2. To utter or send out, as a denunciation or censure; especially, to send out, as a menace or censure, by ecclesiastical authority. They fulminated the most hostile of all decrees. De Quincey.

Fŭl’mi-nate, n.

noun

n. [Fr. fulminate, N. Lat. fulminatum. See supra.] (Chem.) A compound of fulminic acid with a base; as, fulminate of mercury; fulminate of silver; — often called fulminating mercury and silver; fulminate of gold; — called also aurum fulminans, or fulminating gold. These compounds detonate or explode by percussion, friction, or heat. Gregory.