Igneous
/ˈɪɡniəs/noun
Relating to or formed by the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.
Did you know?Its root is the same ancient fire-word behind ignition and ignite, so every time geologists say “igneous,” they’re using a descendant of the old Latin word for flame.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*egn̥is
“fire”
Latin
Latin
ignis
“fire”
Late Latin
Latin
igneus
“of fire; fiery”
16th Century
English
igneous
“fiery; burning”
18th–19th Century
English
igneous
“formed by fire or heat, especially rocks formed from cooled magma”
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