Pulverulent
/pʌlˈvɛr.jə.lənt/noun
Composed of or resembling fine powder or dust.
Did you know?Pulverulent descends from Latin pulvis, “dust,” echoing Horace’s famous phrase pulvis et umbra sumus—“we are dust and shadow.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pelh₁-
“To sprinkle, spread finely, or scatter dust-like material”
Classical Latin
Latin
pulvis
“Dust, ashes, or fine powder”
Classical Latin
Latin
pulverulentus
“Dusty, powdery, or covered with dust”
17th Century
English
pulverulent
“Powdery or consisting of fine particles”
Modern English
English
pulverulent
“Having the form or texture of fine powder”