solvent

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. adj. Capable of meeting financial obligations.
2. adj. Chemistry Capable of dissolving another substance.
3. n. Chemistry A substance in which another substance is dissolved, forming a solution.
4. n. Chemistry A substance, usually a liquid, capable of dissolving another substance.
5. n. Something that solves or explains.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. Having the power of dissolving: as, a solvent body.
2. Able or sufficient to pay all just debts: as, a solvent person or estate. Specifically— Able to pay one's debts as they become due in the ordinary course of business.
3. n. Any fluid or substance that dissolves or renders other bodies liquid; a menstruum. Water is of all solvents the most common and most useful. Alcohol is the solvent of resinous bodies and of some other similarly constituted substances; naphtha, oil of turpentine, and ether are solvents of caoutchoue; chlorin and aqua regia, or nitromuriatic acid, are solvents of gold.

Wiktionary

1. n. A liquid that dissolves a solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution.
2. n. That which resolves.
3. adj. Able to pay all debts as they become due, and having no more liabilities than assets.
4. adj. having the power of dissolving; causing solution.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. adj. Having the power of dissolving; dissolving.
2. adj. Able or sufficient to pay all just debts.
3. n. (Chem.) A substance (usually liquid) suitable for, or employed in, solution, or in dissolving something
4. n. That which resolves.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances
2. n. a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem
3. adj. capable of meeting financial obligations