Adjacent Words

Amianthus definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

AMIANTH'US, n. [Gr. of a neg. and to pollute, or vitiate; so called from its incombustibility. Plin. 36. 19.]
Earth-flax, or mountain flax; a mineral substance somewhat resembling flax; usually grayish, or of a greenish white; sometimes of a yellowish or silvery white, olive or mountain green, of a pale flesh red or ocher color. It is composed of delicate filaments, very flexible and somewhat elastic, often long and resembling threads of silk. It is incombustible, and has sometimes been wrought into cloth and paper.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (also amiantus) any fine silky-fibred variety of asbestos. Etymology: L f. Gk amiantos undefiled f. a- not + miaino defile, i.e. purified by fire, being incombustible: for -h- cf. AMARANTH

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Amianthus Am`i*an"thus, n. [L. amiantus, Gr. ? ? (lit., unsoiled stone) a greenish stone, like asbestus; 'a priv. + ? to stain, to defile; so called from its incombustibility.] (Min.) Earth flax, or mountain flax; a soft silky variety of asbestus.