How Do You Spell ORPIMENT?

Pronunciation: [ˈɔːpɪmənt] (IPA)

Orpiment is a mineral with a bright yellow color, which is often used in pigments and in the production of fireworks. The word "orpiment" is spelled with three syllables and can be transcribed phonetically as /ˈɔː.pə.mənt/. The "or" is pronounced as "awr," the "p" is pronounced as a "p," and the "ment" is pronounced as "mənt." It's important to note that the emphasis is on the second syllable, making it easy to distinguish from similar words like "ornament."

ORPIMENT Meaning and Definition

1. Orpiment is a mineral consisting mainly of arsenic trisulfide, with the chemical formula As2S3. It is a brilliant yellow-orange to yellow mineral that often forms in crystalline masses or granular aggregates. The name "orpiment" is derived from the Latin word "auripigmentum," meaning "gold paint," due to its vivid yellow color that resembles gold.

   In terms of physical properties, orpiment has a relatively high specific gravity and a Mohs hardness of 1.5 to 2.5. It has a perfect cleavage in one direction and a resinous, waxy luster. When freshly exposed, the mineral may exhibit a distinct garlic-like odor.

   Orpiment is primarily found in hydrothermal veins associated with other minerals such as realgar, stibnite, and calcite. It typically occurs in volcanic or sedimentary rocks and may be found in countries such as China, Peru, Russia, and the United States.

   Historically, orpiment has been used for various purposes. In ancient Egypt, it was used as a pigment for wall paintings and cosmetics due to its vibrant yellow color. However, orpiment is highly toxic and contains arsenic, making it dangerous if not handled properly. Therefore, it is mainly appreciated today by collectors, mineral enthusiasts, and researchers who study its unique properties and occurrence in nature.

2. Arsenous sulphide, As2S3, used as a depilatory.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

3. Yellow sulphuret of arsenic; the colour called king's yellow.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for ORPIMENT

• irpiment
• krpiment
• lrpiment
• prpiment
• 0rpiment
• 9rpiment
• oepiment
• odpiment
• ofpiment
• otpiment
• o5piment
• o4piment
• oroiment
• orliment
• or-iment
• or0iment
• orpument
• orpjment
• orpkment

Etymology of ORPIMENT

The word "orpiment" is derived from the Latin term "auripigmentum", which is a combination of "aurum" meaning "gold" and "pigmentum" meaning "paint" or "coloring matter". This Latin term was later introduced into English as "orpiment". "Orpiment" specifically refers to a yellow mineral composed of arsenic sulfide, which was historically used as a pigment in various art forms.

Similar spelling words for ORPIMENT

• orpine,
• orpin.

Plural form of ORPIMENT is ORPIMENTS