ophite

1 of 2

noun (1)

-fīt
plural -s
: any of various usually green and often mottled or blotched rocks (as a serpentine or serpentine marble)

Ophite

2 of 2

noun (2)

"
plural -s
: a member of a Gnostic sect or group of sects including the Naassenes and Perates that revered the serpent as the symbol of the hidden divine wisdom and as having befriended Adam and Eve by persuading them to eat of the tree of knowledge

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Latin, from Greek ophitēs (lithos), literally, serpentine stone, from ophitēs like a snake, from ophis

Noun (2)

Late Latin Ophitae, plural, from Late Greek Ophitai, plural, from Greek ophis snake + -itae, plural of -ites -ite

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near ophite

Cite this Entry

“Ophite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ophite. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!