ophite

[ of-ahyt, oh-fahyt ]

nounPetrology.

a diabase in which elongate crystals of plagioclase are embedded in pyroxene.

Origin of ophite

1350–1400; Middle English ophites<Latin ophītēs serpentine stone <Greek ophī́tēs (líthos) serpentine (stone), equivalent to óph(is) serpent + -ī́tēs-ite¹

Other words from ophite

o·phit·ic [oh-fit-ik], /oʊˈfɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words Nearby ophite

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ophite in a sentence

As these were ophite temples, a story has been added about this person having been stung by a serpent.
A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume II. (of VI.) | Jacob Bryant
Many temples were erected to the ophite God: and many cities were denominated from him.
A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume II. (of VI.) | Jacob Bryant
The temple was an ophite Petra: which terms induced people to believe, that there were in these temples serpents petrified.
A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume II. (of VI.) | Jacob Bryant
There are allusions to these ophite temples, and to these pillars, upon the coins of Syria, and Tyre.
A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume II. (of VI.) | Jacob Bryant
By this is meant the ophite race, who came from Egypt, and from Syria, and got footing in this island.
Ophiolatreia | Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for ophite

ophite

/ (ˈəʊfaɪt) /

noun

any of several greenish mottled rocks with ophitic texture, such as dolerite and diabase

Origin of ophite

C17: from Latin ophītēs, from Greek, from ophis snake: because the mottled appearance resembles the markings of a snake

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse