syenite

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin Syēnītēs, from Syēnē (“Aswan”), because it was anciently quarried there.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsaɪənaɪt/

Noun

syenite (countable and uncountable, plural syenites)

1. (geology, obsolete) Granite.
2. (geology) An igneous rock composed of feldspar and hornblende.
   • 1906, James George Frazer, Adonis, Attis, Osiris, page 15:

     The temple, of which some massive hewn blocks and a fine column of Syenite granite still mark the site, occupied a terrace facing the source of the river and commanding a magnificent prospect.

Translations

obsolete: granite — see granite

igneous rock composed of feldspar and hornblende

• Catalan: sienita f
• Finnish: syeniitti
• French: syénite (fr) f
• German: Syenit m
• Latin: lapis Syēnītēs m, Syēnē f (poetic)
• Spanish: sienita f

Further reading

• syenite on Wikipedia.Wikipedia