prasine

English

Etymology

From Middle English [Term?], from a combination of Middle French prame (inherited from Late Latin prasinus) and Middle French prasine (borrowed from Late Latin prasinum), both ultimately from Latin prasinus (“leek-green”), from Ancient Greek πράσινος (prásinos), from πράσον (práson, “leek”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹeɪziːn/

Noun

prasine (plural prasines)

1. (obsolete) A green gem; an emerald. [14th–16th c.]
2. (obsolete) A type of green pigment. [14th–17th c.]
3. (mineralogy) Pseudomalachite. [from 19th c.]
   • 1864 November 5, William Crookes, editor, The Chemical News and Journal of Physical Science: […] , volume 10, number 257, London: J. H. Dutton, […] , →OCLC, Revision of the Mineral Phosphates, page 217, column 1:

     It is possible that just as chrysocolla is silicated malachite, so prasine is phosphated malachite; the physical appearance of these minerals strongly confirms this view.

Adjective

prasine (comparative more prasine, superlative most prasine)

1. (now rare) Synonym of leek-green. [from 14th c.]
   • 1969, Vladimir Nabokov, chapter 5, in Ada, or, Ardor: A Family Chronicle, Harmondsworth, London: Penguin Books, published 1970, →ISBN, part 2, page 287:

     He recalled, in passing, the sweetness in his lap, her round little bottom, her prasine eyes as she turned toward him and the receding road.

   prasine:  

See also

• leek

Anagrams

• Persian, arpines, asperin, paniers, rapines, saprine, separin

Latin

Adjective

prasine

1. vocative masculine singular of prasinus

Noun

prasine

1. vocative masculine singular of prasinus