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Added 9 October 2026

vitreous

/ˈvɪtriəs/ adjective

Latin root: vitreus Coined: 1733, by Charles Fran Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about vitreous at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Of or resembling glass; glassy.
Of or relating to the vitreous humor of the eye.
Having a shiny nonporous surface.

noun

The vitreous humor.

Origin

From Middle French vitreux, from Latin vitreus (“glassy, transparent”), from vitrum (“glass”). The terms vitreous (positive) and resinous (negative) electricity were coined in 1733 by Charles François de Cisternay du Fay, who studied the different behaviour of glass and resin when rubbed with silk and fur, respectively.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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