authigenic

adjective au·thi·gen·ic \ ¦ȯthə¦jenik \

variants: or authigenous \(ˈ)ȯ¦thijənəs\

Definition of authigenic

: formed where found —used of mineral particles of rocks formed by crystallization in the place they occupy —opposed to allothogenic

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Origin and Etymology of authigenic

German authigen authigenic (from Greek authigenēs born in that place, native, from authi there + -genēs born) + English -ic or -ous; akin to Greek au again

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First Known Use: circa 1888

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year