saponite

noun

sap·o·nite ˈsa-pə-ˌnīt

: a hydrous magnesium aluminum silicate occurring in soft soapy amorphous masses and filling veins and cavities (as in serpentine)

Word History

Etymology

Swedish saponit, from Latin sapon-, sapo soap

First Known Use

circa 1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of saponite was circa 1849

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Saponite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saponite. Accessed 28 Jan. 2023.

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