The word "Selenitic" is spelled as səˈlɛnɪtɪk. The pronunciation of the word emphasizes the vowel sound "e" followed by a "short i". The letter "c" is added, indicating the "k" sound after the "t" in the word "selenite". This word is primarily used to describe rocks that have a white or colorless appearance with a crystalline structure. It also refers to something that is related to the moon, deriving from the Greek goddess Selene.
Selenitic is an adjective that pertains to or describes something that is related to the moon, specifically its geology or lunar features. The term is derived from the word "selenium," a chemical element found in various rocks and minerals, particularly in moon rocks.
In geological terms, selenitic refers to a type of rock or formation that is similar in appearance and texture to the surface of the moon. These rocks typically have a powdery or fine texture, resembling lunar soil, and may exhibit a pale gray or whitish color resembling the moon's surface.
The term can also be used to describe lunar features or phenomena on the moon itself. Selenitic features include craters, mountain ranges, valleys, and other landforms that are characteristic of the moon's unique geological makeup.
In general usage, selenitic can be used metaphorically or in a figurative sense to indicate something that is otherworldly or dreamlike. For example, one might describe a breathtakingly ethereal landscape as having a selenitic quality, implying a sense of otherworldliness or celestial beauty.
Overall, the term selenitic is primarily associated with the moon's geological characteristics, such as lunar rocks, formations, or features, but can also extend to metaphorical associations with the dreamlike or otherworldly.
Pert. to or resembling selenite.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "Selenitic" comes from the Greek word "Selene" (Σελήνη), which means "moon". It is derived from the name of the Greek moon goddess, "Selene". The suffix "-tic" is derived from the Greek suffix "-tikos", meaning "pertaining to" or "characteristic of". Therefore, "Selenitic" means "pertaining to the moon" or "characteristic of the moon".