Meanings
plural opegraphas
- Any lichen species of the genus Opegrapha.
[...] and finally a fourth description of Lichens (Opegraphas) establish themselves upon the bark of living trees, occasionally burying themselves beneath the skin, through which their shields alone peep forth in the strange form of the letters of some eastern tongue.
1848, John Lindley, “The Lichen Tribe.”, in Ladies' Botany, fifth edition, volume 1, page 2831 more example
But every part is usually covered with thin, membranaceous lichens, (Lecanoras, Lecideas, letter-like Opegraphas) in clouds of every shade of white, gray, and brown, outside, which are often large patches of gray, yellow, and sulphur-colored foliaceous lichens, (Parmelias).
1846, A report on the trees and shrubs growing naturally in the forests of Massachusetts, page 159
Origin
- translingualOpegrapha
- Englishopegrapha
Borrowed from translingual Opegrapha, from Ancient Greek ὀπή (opḗ, “opening, hole”) + Ancient Greek γρᾰφή (grăphḗ, “drawing, writing”).
More words from translingual
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 孔文衣
- 孔文衣 (kǒngwényī)lichen of the genus Opegrapha
Polish pismaczek
- pismaczeklichen of the genus Opegrapha
Russian опе́графа
- опе́графа (opégrafa)lichen of the genus Opegrapha
Ukrainian опе́графа
- опе́графа (opéhrafa)lichen of the genus Opegrapha
Cite this entry
opegrapha. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opegrapha
“opegrapha.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opegrapha. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “opegrapha,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opegrapha.
Source: opegrapha on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.