hydrophanousadj.
/hʌɪˈdrɒfənəs/ Mineralogy.
Having the property of becoming transparent by immersion in water, as certain opals.
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hydrophanous1794
1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature I. 362 The oculus mundi, or hydrophanous stone, steeped in water..will..become by that means more transparent than otherwise.
1855 D. Brewster Mem. Life I. Newton (new ed.) I. viii. 185 The colours of Labrador felspar, and of precious and hydrophanous opal, which we have shewn to be produced by thin plates and minute pores and tubes.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adj.1794