aphanite

A1P3H4A1N1I1T1E1
/ˈæf.əˌnaɪt/

noun

Certain dark igneous rocks having grain so fine that the individual crystals cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Opposite
phanerite
OriginAncient Greek ἀφανής (aphanḗs) ← Proto-Hellenic *epʰaňňómān ← Proto-Indo-European *n̥- →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounaphanite (countable and uncountable, plural aphanites)

plural aphanites

  1. countableuncountablegeographyCertain dark igneous rocks having grain so fine that the individual crystals cannot be seen with the naked eye.

    Antonyms: phanerite

Synonyms & antonyms

nounCertain dark igneous rocks having grain so fine that the individual crystals cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Opposite
phanerite

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Hellenic*ə-
  4. Ancient Greekᾰ̓- (ă-)
  5. Proto-Hellenic*epʰaňňómān
  6. Ancient Greekφαίνομαι (phaínomai)
  7. Ancient Greekἀφανής (aphanḗs)
  8. Englishaphanite

From Ancient Greek ἀφανής (aphanḗs, “indistinct, unseen, obscure”) + English -ite.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Polish afanit
  • afanitTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

aphanite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aphanite

MLA

“aphanite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aphanite. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “aphanite,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aphanite.

Source: aphanite on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.