phene

[ feen ]

/ fin /

noun Biology.

any characteristic of an individual organism that is genetically determined.

Nearby words

Origin of phene

extracted from phenotype, or directly < Greek phaínein to show, (passive) to appear

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for phene

He sees that Phene's soul is, like a butterfly, half-loosed from its chrysalis, and ready for flight.
The Poetry Of Robert Browning|Stopford A. Brooke
Nor should these be given Phene to hand Jules, for so Lutwyche would lose the delicious actual instant of the revelation.
Browning's Heroines|Ethel Colburn Mayne
He had brought a book, and by-and-by opened at the part commencing, "Do not die, Phene."
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 5, No. 28, February, 1860|Various
Phene will speak more when Jules and she are in their isle together—but never will she speak much: she is silence.
Browning's Heroines|Ethel Colburn Mayne

Jules, the sculptor, will wed his Phene to-day: nothing can disturb their happiness, their sunbeams are in their own breasts.
The Browning Cyclopdia|Edward Berdoe

Word Origin and History for phene

phene

as an element in names of chemicals derived from benzene, from French phène, proposed 1836 by French scientist Auguste Laurent as an alternative name for "benzene" because it had been found in coal tar, a byproduct of the manufacture of "illuminating gas," from Greek phainein "to bring to light," (see phantasm). Related: Phenyl (radical which forms the basis of derivatives of benzene); pheno- (comb. form).