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Webster 1913 Edition


Selenite

Sel′e-nite

,
Noun.
(Chem.)
A salt of selenious acid.

Sel′e-nite

,
Noun.
[L.
selenites
, Gr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK] (sc. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK]), from
σελήνη
the moon. So called from a fancied resemblance in luster or appearance to the moon.]
(Min.)
A variety of gypsum, occuring in transparent crystals or crystalline masses.

Webster 1828 Edition


Selenite

SEL'ENITE

,
Noun.
[Gr. the moon; so called on account of its reflecting the the moon's light with brilliancy.] Foliated or crystalized sulphate of lime. Selenite is a subspecies of sulphate of lime, of two varieties, massive and acicular.

Definition 2024


Selenite

Selenite

See also: selenite, sélénite, and Sélénite

English

Noun

Selenite (plural Selenites)

  1. (science fiction) An inhabitant of Luna, the moon of Terra.
    • 1901, Wells, Herbert George, “The Selenite's Face”, in The First Men in the Moon:
      My first impression was of some clumsy quadruped with lowered head. Then I perceived it was the slender pinched body and short and extremely attenuated bandy legs of a Selenite, with his head depressed between his shoulders.

Synonyms

Hypernyms

Translations

Adjective

Selenite

  1. (science fiction) Pertaining to the inhabitants of Luna (Lunarians/Selenites).
    a Selenite colony

German

Noun

Selenite n

  1. plural of Selenit

selenite

selenite

See also: Selenite, sélénite, and Sélénite

English

Selenite (1)

Noun

selenite (countable and uncountable, plural selenites)

  1. (mineralogy) A soft, glassy form of gypsum (chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O).
  2. (inorganic chemistry) The anion SeO32 derived from selenous acid; any salt or ester of selenous acid.

Translations

Synonyms

Derived terms

  • cadmium selenite
  • sodium selenite

Anagrams


Italian

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σελήνη (selḗnē, moon) + -ite; the chemistry sense comes via the name of the element selenium.

Noun

selenite f (plural seleniti)

  1. (mineralogy) selenite