English
leucite
Leucite comes from Ancient Greek λευκός ‘white’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *lewk-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewk-‘white’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*leukós‘white’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλευκός‘white’
- Englishtodayleucite
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewk-‘white’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*leukós‘white’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλευκός‘white’
- Englishtodayleucite
Formed from λευκός ‘white’ + -ite
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‘white’
light, low, link, los, lucy, ounce, lunar, luna, illumination, lux, lea, luminous, illuminate, lumen, lynx, translucent, lumia, lucid, luminosity, luce, lum, lune, loach, luminescent, luminary, luminal, 75 more
Today it means
noun A mineral of silica-poor igneous, plutonic and volcanic rocks. Chemically, leucite is a potassium feldspar with insufficient silica to satisfy the chemical bonds. Because of the unfilled bonds, leucite weathers rapidly and can only be seen as inclusions in freshly broken rock.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *lewk- / leucite