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obsidian Definition

ob·sid·ian (əb sid′ē ən)

noun

a hard, usually dark-colored or black volcanic glass with conchoidal fracture, often used as a gem

Etymology: ModL obsidianus < L Obsidianus (lapis), a faulty reading in Pliny (altered by assoc. with L obsidium, a siege < obsidere: see obsess) for Obsianus (lapis), stone of Obsius, finder of a similar stone in Ethiopia

obsidian Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • use: The Ancient Egyptians used obsidian in talismans, which had to be imported from Ethiopia.

Adjective modifier

  • black: Beyond the fence could be glimpsed a squat building of glassy, black obsidian.
  • glassy: I spent ages staring out of my window at the glassy, obsidian, black example I borrowed last week.
  • polished: Human settlements as old as 9000 years have contained mirrors of polished obsidian; self-reflection has been with us since the dawn of consciousness.

Modifies a noun

  • blade: The ground is strewn with ancient pieces of pottery and obsidian knife blades.
  • hydration: Other, less well known techniques include thermoluminescence, potassium-argon dating, archaeomagnetic dating and obsidian hydration dating.
  • mirror: Mellaart also unearthed the burial of an old woman with a convex polished obsidian mirror.
  • arrowhead: This burial was accompanied by five leaf shaped obsidian arrowheads, a bronze dagger and arrowhead and also a horse burial.
  • dagger: The obsidian dagger lay beside the base of the altar stone.
  • zone: The obsidian zone located in the southern part contains primarily Upper Acheulean obsidian artifacts.

Noun used with modifier

  • snowflake: Snowflake obsidian is known as " the stone of purity " helping to balance and purify the mind and body.