ophite

O1P3H4I1T1E1
UK/ˈɒfʌɪt/UK/ˈəʊfʌɪt/US/ˈoʊfaɪt/

noun

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

Similar
Serpentinian
OriginLatin ophites ← Ancient Greek ὀφίτης →
First used 16th c.Scrabble 11
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Meanings

ophite1

nounophite (countable and uncountable, plural ophites)

plural ophites

  1. countableuncountablegeographyAny of various rocks having snake-like markings, such as a mottled greenish porphyry.First known use 16th c.

ophite2

adjectiveophite (comparative more ophite, superlative most ophite)

comparative more ophite · superlative most ophite

  1. rareSerpent-like; ophidian.First known use 19th c.

    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

Ophite3

nounOphite (plural Ophites)

plural Ophites

  1. historicalA member of the Ophites, a Gnostic snake-worshipping sect.

    Synonyms: Serpentinian

Synonyms & antonyms

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

Similar
Serpentinian

Origin

ophite · noun

  1. Ancient Greekὀφίτης
  2. Latinophites
  3. Englishophite

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

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

ophite · adjective

  1. Ancient Greekὀφίτης
  2. Englishophite

From Ancient Greek ὀφίτης (ophítēs).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Ophite · noun

Latin Ophitae, plural. Compare ophite.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

photiePeithoEthiop
Cite this entry
APA

ophite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ophite

MLA

“ophite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ophite. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ophite,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ophite.

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