Stefanite
/ˈstɛfən.aɪt/noun
A dark gray to black mineral composed chiefly of silver, antimony, and sulfur.
Did you know?Stefanite was named for Archduke Stephan of Austria, connecting a mineral of silver and antimony to the ancient Greek name Stephanos, meaning “crown” or “wreath.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*stebh-
“To support, place firmly, or establish; a proposed ancestral root associated with the later idea of a fixed crown or wreath.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
στέφανος (stephanos)
“A crown or wreath, especially one awarded as a mark of honor or victory.”
Late Antiquity
Greek
Stephanos
“A personal name meaning “crowned” or “crown,” later used in Christian naming traditions.”
Latin
Latin
Stephanus
“The Latin form of the Greek personal name Stephanos.”
19th Century
German
Stephanit
“A mineral name formed from Stephan, referring to Archduke Stephan of Austria, with the mineral suffix -it.”
19th Century
English
stefanite
“A mineral of silver, antimony, and sulfur, also known as silver antimony sulfide.”
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