Porphyry

Porphyry
Porphyry Por"phy*ry, n.; pl. {Porphyries}. [F. porphyre, L. porphyrites, fr. Gr. ? like purple, fr. ? purple. See {Purple}.] (Geol.) A term used somewhat loosely to designate a rock consisting of a fine-grained base (usually feldspathic) through which crystals, as of feldspar or quartz, are disseminated. There are red, purple, and green varieties, which are highly esteemed as marbles. [1913 Webster]

{Porphyry shell} (Zo["o]l.), a handsome marine gastropod shell ({Oliva porphyria}), having a dark red or brown polished surface, marked with light spots, like porphyry. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Porphyry's — Porphyry …   Philosophy dictionary

  • Porphyry — (pronounced IPA|/ pɔː(ɹ)fɪri/, from the Greek polytonic|Πορφύριος porphyrios purple clad ) may refer to:*Porphyry (geology), a plutonic rock with large crystals in a fine grained matrix *Porphyry (philosopher) (c. 232 c. 305), a Neoplatonic… …   Wikipedia

  • PORPHYRY° — (233–305 C.E.), Greek philosopher, disciple of Plotinus, and one of the most versatile thinkers of his day. Porphyry displayed considerable interest in Judaism, both as one of the ancient religions of the Orient and as the source of Christianity …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • porphyry — type of ornamental stone, late 14c., from O.Fr. porfire, from L. porphyrites, a purple semi precious stone quarried near Red Sea in Egypt, from Gk. porphyrites (lithos) the purple (stone), from porphyra (n.) purple, purple dye (see PURPLE (Cf.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • porphyry — ► NOUN (pl. porphyries) ▪ a hard, typically reddish igneous rock containing crystals of feldspar. ORIGIN Greek porphurit s, from porphura purple …   English terms dictionary

  • porphyry — [pôr′fə rē] n. pl. porphyries [ME porfirie < OFr porfire < ML porphyreum, altered < L porphyrites < Gr porphyritēs ( lithos), lit., purple (stone) < porphyros, purple] 1. Historical an Egyptian rock with large feldspar crystals… …   English World dictionary

  • Porphyry — (c. 232–305) Syrian polymath, and disciple and editor of Plotinus . Porphyry also wrote commentaries upon Plato and Aristotle . His most influential work was the Isagoge or Introduction to Aristotle s Categories, which was responsible for the… …   Philosophy dictionary

  • porphyry — /pawr feuh ree/, n., pl. porphyries. 1. a very hard rock, anciently quarried in Egypt, having a dark, purplish red groundmass containing small crystals of feldspar. 2. Petrol. any igneous rock containing coarse crystals, as phenocrysts, in a… …   Universalium

  • Porphyry — Porphyrean /pawr fear ee euhn/, adj. Porphyrian, adj., n. Porphyrianist, n. /pawr feuh ree/, n. (Malchus) A.D. c233 c304, Greek philosopher. * * * ▪ Syrian philosopher original name  Malchus   born c. 234, Tyre [modern Ṣūr, Lebanon] or Batanaea… …   Universalium

  • porphyry —    A hard igneous rock, originally recognized as the Egyptian variety now known as Imperial porphyry containing crystals of feldspar in a purplish groundmass. It was prized in the sculpture and architecture of the ancient Romans as well as by… …   Glossary of Art Terms

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