ophite meaning (rare): definition, etymology and quotations

ophite

adjalso spelled Ophite

UK /ˈɒfʌɪt/ · US /ˈoʊfaɪt/

Etymology From Ancient Greek ὀφίτης (ophítēs).

Rare Serpent-like; ophidian.

The idols represented the eons, divine emanations, and their origin was probably ophite – about which we know a thing or two at first hand.1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, Faber & Faber, published 1992, page 243:

noun

Etymology Latin Ophitae, plural. Compare ophite.

Historical A member of the Ophites, a Gnostic snake-worshipping sect.

noun

Etymology From Latin ophites, from Ancient Greek ὀφίτης (ophítēs) (Etymology 2, below). Compare Ophite.

Geography, Geology, Natural sciences Any of various rocks having snake-like markings, such as a mottled greenish porphyry.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — authors: page histories for ophite and Ophite.