Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Ophite
O′phite
,Adj.
[Gr.
ὀφίτης
, fr. ὄφισ
a serpent.] Of or pertaining to a serpent.
[Obs.]
O′phite
,Noun.
[L.
ophites
, Gr. ὀφίτησ
(sc. [GREEK]), a kind of marble spotted like a serpent: cf. F. ophite
.] (Min.)
A greenish spotted porphyry, being a diabase whose pyroxene has been altered to uralite; – first found in the Pyreness. So called from the colored spots which give it a mottled appearance.
– O-phi′ic
(#)
, Adj.
O′phite
,Noun.
(Eccl. Hist.)
A mamber of a Gnostic serpent-worshiping sect of the second century.
Webster 1828 Edition
Ophite
O'PHITE
,Noun.
O'PHITE
,Adj.
Green porphyry, or serpentine; a variety of greenstone of a dusky green color of different shades, sprinkled with spots of a lighter green; in other words, containing greenish white crystals of feldspar.
Definition 2024
Ophite
Ophite
ophite
ophite
See also: Ophite
English
Noun
ophite (plural ophites)
- (geology) Any of various rocks having snake-like markings, such as a mottled greenish porphyry. [from 16th c.]
Etymology 2
From Ancient Greek ὀϕίτης (oϕítēs).
Adjective
ophite (comparative more ophite, superlative most ophite)
- (rare) Serpent-like; ophidian. [from 19th c.]
- 1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, Faber & Faber 1992, p. 243:
- The idols represented the eons, divine emanations, and their origin was probably ophite – about which we know a thing or two at first hand.
- 1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, Faber & Faber 1992, p. 243: