First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
porphyry
noun por·phy·ry \ˈpȯr-f(ə-)rē\
plural por·phy·ries
Definition of PORPHYRY
1
: a rock consisting of feldspar crystals embedded in a compact dark red or purple groundmass
2
: an igneous rock of porphyritic texture
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Origin of PORPHYRY
Middle English porphiri, from Medieval Latin porphyrium, alteration of Latin porphyrites, from Greek porphyritēs (lithos), literally, stone like Tyrian purple, from porphyra purple
Rhymes with PORPHYRY
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