Word of the Day

: September 8, 2009

marmoreal

adjective marh-MOR-ee-ul

What It Means

: of, relating to, or suggestive of marble or a marble statue especially in coldness or aloofness

marmoreal in Context

Mary sat silently in the corner of the room, her face expressing nothing but marmoreal calm.

Did You Know?

Most marble-related words in English were chiseled from the Latin noun "marmor," meaning "marble." "Marmor" gave our language the word "marble" itself in the 12th century. It is also the parent of "marmoreal," which has been used in English since the mid-1600s. "Marbleize," another "marmor" descendant, came later, making its print debut around 1859.