ophitic

adjective ophit·ic \ ä-ˈfi-tik , ō- \

Definition of ophitic

: having or being a rock fabric in which lath-shaped plagioclase crystals are enclosed in later formed augite

Origin and Etymology of ophitic

ophite serpentine (stone), from Latin ophites, from Greek ophitēs (lithos), from ophitēs snakelike, from ophis snake; akin to Sanskrit ahi snake and probably to Latin anguis snake, anguilla eel, Greek enchelys eel, echidna viper, echinos hedgehog, Old English igil

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First Known Use: 1870

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year