refringent

[ ri-frin-juhnt ]

adjective

1. refracting; refractive.

refringent

/ rɪˈfrɪndʒənt /

adjective

1. physics of, concerned with, or causing refraction; refractive

Derived Forms

• reˈfringency, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of refringent¹

1770–80; < Latin refringent- (stem of refringēns ), present participle of refringere to break up. See refract, -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of refringent¹

C18: from Latin refringere to break up; see refract

Example Sentences

Between the spores a certain amount of intercellular substance or residual protoplasm is left, in which the refringent granules seem to be embedded.

From Project Gutenberg

The endoplasm contains a number of large refringent granules—probably body products.

From Project Gutenberg

Its mycelian filaments, if one may so describe them, have been produced scarcely for twenty-four or forty-eight hours when they are seen to transform themselves, those especially which are in free contact with the air, into very refringent corpuscles, capable of gradually isolating themselves into true germs of slight organization.

From Project Gutenberg