hessonite

[ hes-uh-nahyt ]

noun

, Mineralogy.

1. essonite.

hessonite

/ ˈhɛsəˌnaɪt /

noun

1. an orange-brown variety of grossularite garnet Also calledessonitecinnamon stone

Word History and Origins

Origin of hessonite¹

< Greek hēsson- (stem of hḗssōn ) less, inferior + -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of hessonite¹

C19: from French, from Greek hēssōn less, inferior + -ite ¹; so called because it is less hard than genuine hyacinth

Example Sentences

The hessonite garnets are frequently brownish red and are sometimes called "cinnamon stones."

From Project Gutenberg