igneous

English

Etymology

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₁engʷ-
Proto-Indo-European *h₁n̥gʷnís
Proto-Italic *engʷnis
Latin ign(is)
Proto-Indo-European *-éyos
Proto-Italic *-ejos
Proto-Italic *-eos
Latin -eus
Latin igneusbor.
English igneous

    From Latin igneus (“fiery”). By surface analysis, Latin ign- +‎ -eous.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈɪɡ.ni.əs/
    • Audio (Southern England):(file)
    • Hyphenation: ig‧ne‧ous

    Adjective

    igneous (not comparable)

    1. Pertaining to or having the nature of fire; containing fire; resembling fire.
      The stone had an igneous appearance.
    2. (geology) Resulting from, or produced by, great heat. With rocks, it could also mean formed from lava or magma.
      Coordinate terms: sedimentary, metamorphic
      Granite and basalt are igneous rocks.
      • 1835, Charles Lyell, chapter V, in Principles of Geology […] , 4th edition, volume III, London: John Murray, Book IV, page 385:
        All formations, whether igneous or aqueous, which can be shown by any such proofs to be of a date posterior to the introduction of man, will be called Recent.

    Derived terms

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