Chryselephantine comes from Ancient Greek khrūselephántinos, from khrūsós ('gold') + eléphas, elephant- ('ivory, elephant'); describing statues overlaid with gold and ivory. The historical trail runs through khrūsós in Ancient Greek and eléphas in Ancient Greek. Morphologically, chryselephantine is transparent: it draws on Ancient Greek khrūselephántinos, from khrūsós ('gold') + eléphas, elephant- ('ivory, elephant'). Used as an adjective, chryselephantine now means "made of or overlaid with gold and ivory, as ancient statues", so the present definition can be read against the older forms and meanings. The result is a borrowed or transmitted form whose modern spelling carries a compact record of its route into English.