chryselephantine

[ kris-el-uh-fan-tin, -tahyn ]

adjective

1. made of or overlaid with gold and ivory, as certain objects made in ancient Greece.

chryselephantine

/ ˌkrɪsɛlɪˈfæntɪn /

adjective

1. (of ancient Greek statues) made of or overlaid with gold and ivory

Word History and Origins

Origin of chryselephantine¹

1820–30; < Greek chrȳselephántinos, equivalent to chrȳs- chrys- + elephántinos ( elephant-, stem of eléphās elephant, ivory + -inos -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of chryselephantine¹

C19: from Greek khruselephantinos, from khrusos gold + elephas ivory; see elephant

Example Sentences

The chryselephantine papal standard rises high, surrounded by pennons of the civic flag.

From Project Gutenberg

All three wrought in chryselephantine gold and ivory; the gold with flowing pallid highlights.

From Project Gutenberg

In sculpture he favours the use of varicoloured materials in the manner of the Greek chryselephantine sculpture.

From Project Gutenberg

There are Chryselephantine statues, but no purely elephantine ones.

From Project Gutenberg

The great statue of Athene by Phidias was of this "Chryselephantine" work.

From Project Gutenberg