xenotime

noun xen·o·time \ ˈzenəˌtīm \

Definition of xenotime

plural -s

: a mineral YPO₄ that is a phosphate of yttrium occurring in usually brown or yellow tetragonal crystals and rolled grains and that often also contains thorium, erbium, cerium, or other elements (hardness 4–5, specific gravity 4.45–4.56)

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Origin and Etymology of xenotime

French xénotime, irregular (influence of xén- xen-) from Greek kenos empty, vain + timē honor; from the fact that it was wrongly thought at first to contain a new metal