Meanings
plural syenites
- countableobsoleteuncountablegeographyGranite.
- countableuncountablegeographyAn igneous rock composed of feldspar and hornblende.
Much of the southern half of the southeastern body is a mafic syenite, slightly more felsic than the shonkinite.
1954, J. C. Olson, D. R. Shawe, L. C. Pray, W. N. Sharp, Rare-Earth Mineral Deposits of the Mountain Pass District, San Bernadino County, California, U.S. Geological Survey, Professional Paper 261, page 221 more example
The temple, of which some massive hewn blocks and a fine column of Syenite granite still mark the site, occupied a terrace facing the source of the river and commanding a magnificent prospect.
1906, James George Frazer, Adonis, Attis, Osiris, page 15
Origin
- LatinSyēnītēs
- Englishsyenite
Borrowed from Latin Syēnītēs, from Syēnē (“Aswan”), because it was anciently quarried there.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan sienita
- sienitaigneous rock composed of feldspar and hornblende
Finnish syeniitti
- syeniittiigneous rock composed of feldspar and hornblende
French syénite
- syéniteigneous rock composed of feldspar and hornblende
German Syenit
- Syenitigneous rock composed of feldspar and hornblende
Latin lapis Syēnītēs, Syēnē
- lapis Syēnītēsigneous rock composed of feldspar and hornblende
- Syēnēigneous rock composed of feldspar and hornblende
Polish sjenit
- sjenitigneous rock composed of feldspar and hornblende
Slovak syenit
- syenitigneous rock composed of feldspar and hornblende
Spanish sienita
- sienitaigneous rock composed of feldspar and hornblende
Cite this entry
syenite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/syenite
“syenite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/syenite. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “syenite,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/syenite.
Source: syenite on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.