‖ stalactites Now rare.
(ˌstælækˈtaɪtiːz)
Pl. stalactitæ (-tiː).
[mod.L. (Olaus Wormius a 1654), f. Gr. σταλακτ-ός dropping, dripping (vbl. adj. f. σταλακ-, σταλάσσειν to let drip, intr. to drip), after names of stones in -ītēs: see -ite1.]
= stalactite.
| [a 1654 O. Wormius Mus. i. ii. vi. (1655) 50 De Stalactite, Stalagmite, Osteocolla,..&c. Ad molliorum lapidum classem referimus Stalactitem, Norvegis Berg-drab.] 1681 Grew Musæum iii. §i. v. 301 The Larger Hollow Stalactites, or Water-Pipe. 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth iv. 202 Sometimes Spar, and other crasser Minerals, are thus mounted up, and..form Stalactitæ, or Sparry Iceycles hanging down from the Arches of the Grotto's. 1794 R. J. Sulivan View Nat. I. 421 In caverns and fissures, stalactitæ,..and other substances, crystallize in various forms. |