selenite

[ sel-uh-nahyt, si-lee-nahyt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Mineralogy. a variety of gypsum, found in transparent crystals and foliated masses.
Chemistry. a salt of selenious acid.

selenite

/ ˈsɛlɪˌnaɪt /

1560–70; < Latin selēnītēs < Greek selēnī́tēs líthos moonstone; Selene, -ite ¹

C17: via Latin from Greek selēnitēs lithos moonstone, from selēnē moon; so called because it was believed to wax and wane with the moon

The windows in the upper stories are made of flakes of selenite instead of glass.

Large crystals of selenite (sulphate of lime) occur in the Marls.

The selenite waxed and waned with the moon, and the meloceus, that discovers thieves, could be affected only by the blood of kids.

It is generally compact, forming a regular and conformable bed, with crystals of selenite (crystallized gypsum) in drusy cavities.

Clay, usually red, containing veins of white gypsum, and fine crystals of selenite.

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

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