porphyry

¹

[ pawr-fuh-ree ]

noun

, plural por·phy·ries.

1. a very hard rock, anciently quarried in Egypt, having a dark, purplish-red groundmass containing small crystals of feldspar.
2. Petrology. any igneous rock containing coarse crystals, as phenocrysts, in a finer-grained groundmass.

Porphyry

²

[ pawr-fuh-ree ]

noun

1. Malchus, a.d. c233–c304, Greek philosopher.

Porphyry

¹

/ ˈpɔːfɪrɪ /

noun

1. Porphyry232305MGreekSyrianPHILOSOPHY: philosopher original name Malchus. 232–305 ad , Greek Neo-Platonist philosopher, born in Syria; disciple and biographer of Plotinus

porphyry

²

/ ˈpɔːfɪrɪ /

noun

1. any igneous rock with large crystals embedded in a finer groundmass of minerals
2. obsolete.
   a reddish-purple rock consisting of large crystals of feldspar in a finer groundmass of feldspar, hornblende, etc

porphyry

/ pôr′fə-rē /

1. An igneous rock containing the large crystals known as phenocrysts embedded in a fine-grained matrix.

Other Words From

• Por·phyr·e·an [pawr-, feer, -ee-, uh, n], adjective
• Por·phyri·an adjective noun
• Por·phyri·an·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of porphyry¹

1350–1400; Middle English porfurie, porfirie < Medieval Latin porphyreum, alteration of Latin porphyrītēs < Greek porphyrī́tēs porphyry, short for porphyrī́tēs líthos porphyritic (i.e., purplish) stone, equivalent to pórphyr ( os ) purple + -ītēs; -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of porphyry¹

C14 porfurie, from Late Latin porphyrītēs, from Greek porphuritēs ( lithos ) purple (stone), from porphuros purple

Example Sentences

He stood still an instant, hidden by the porphyry columns of the portico.

From Project Gutenberg

The crystallised ray enshrines the liquid, and the porphyry flagstones of the terraces reflect the surrounding objects like ice.

From Project Gutenberg

In vain he sought support against one of the porphyry columns at the facade of the mosque.

From Project Gutenberg

The river, perfectly clear of rocks, was a sheet of liquid porphyry, an arrow of dark-red water slightly flecked with foam.

From Project Gutenberg

Now, among the spoil were some bronze gates and two rosy pillars of porphyry, very precious.

From Project Gutenberg