noun
- Plural of cerus; white lead or lead carbonate, historically used as a cosmetic powder or paint pigment.
Usage: archaic; historical
Examples
- In Renaissance Europe, ceruses were applied to the face as a fashionable cosmetic.
- The painter mixed ceruses into the base to achieve a bright white undercoat.
- Historical records show that ceruses were commonly imported for use in makeup.
- Ceruses posed serious health risks to those who used them regularly.
- The chemist analyzed the old cosmetic jar and identified ceruses as the primary ingredient.