murrhine

Or mur·rine

[mur-in, -ahyn]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or manufactured of murra.

murrhine

/ -ɪn, ˈmʌraɪn /

adjective

1. of or relating to an unknown substance used in ancient Rome to make vases, cups, etc

noun

1. Also called: murra. the substance so used

Word History and Origins

Origin of murrhine¹

1570–80; < Latin murr ( h ) inus, for Greek mourrínē, equivalent to mórr ( ia ) murra + -inē feminine noun suffix; -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of murrhine¹

C16: from Latin murr ( h ) inus belonging to murra

Example Sentences

Nero paid three hundred talents for a murrhine vase.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Sometimes purple glass is used in place of brown, probably with the design of imitating the precious murrhine.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

F. Corsi, the eminent Italian antiquary, held that fluor-spar was the material of the famous murrhine vases.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

"The story is told that when Mark Antony sent him the poison to drink in a murrhine cup, the most valuable article in his collection, Verres drank the poison quickly and dashed the cup upon the marble floor, smashing it into a thousand pieces."

Read more on Time Magazine Archive

They were murrhine cups, brought from Asia at a great price, of mysterious fabrication, into which entered the dust of certain shells, and myrrh, hardened and tinted.

Read more on Project Gutenberg