porphyry

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an igneous rock containing conspicuous large crystals within a much finer-grained groundmass

   Large pale crystals were clearly visible in the dark porphyry.

2. 2
   noun

   a hard red or purple variety of such rock, historically prized as a decorative stone

   The imperial hall was faced with panels of deep purple porphyry.

Simplified etymology

Porphyry entered English in the late Middle Ages as the name of a purple-colored stone. Its name comes from the same Greek source as purple, porphyra, which originally denoted a crimson dye obtained from molluscs.

From Middle English porphiri, through Medieval Latin porphyrium and Latin porphyrites, from Greek porphyritēs lithos, literally 'purple stone.' Porphyritēs derives from porphyra, the purple dye associated with royal and imperial rank.

Topics

External links

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