alabastrine

9.9

Having a very pale, smooth, and slightly see-through color like fine white stone

adjective
/ˌæl.əˈbæs.trɪn/

Literature

: alabastrino

She admired the alabastrine complexion of the ancient statue.

Examples

The room was bathed in an alabastrine glow from the soft lamp.
Painters often describe perfect, pale skin as having an alabastrine quality.
The artist used an alabastrine hue for the statue.
Her skin had an alabastrine quality that captivated everyone.
The artist captured her alabastrine skin tone beautifully in the portrait.
The marble statue had an alabastrine finish that highlighted its delicate features.
In the soft light of the evening, her alabastrine complexion seemed to glow.

Synonyms

alabaster

vsalabastrine

1 7.4

Having a very pale smooth appearance like polished white stone

is the same sense but often used as a poetic or artistic adjective

waxlike

vsalabastrine

5.2

Pale, smooth, slightly shiny, and a little see-through

focuses more on stone-like pale translucency rather than waxy quality

pale-colored

vsalabastrine

2.3

Having a light color that is not bright

adds smoothness and a translucent quality beyond mere light color

How Pale

snow-white

6 1.1

porcelain

58 4.3

alabastrine

Literature

9.9

alabaster

5 7.6

pale

291 1.0

Surface Forms

alabastrine positive

Morphology

alabastrine = alabaster (transparent) = alabaster + ine

The adjective is directly formed from 'alabaster' with the productive suffix '-ine' meaning 'resembling' or 'of the nature of'.

Etymology

Alabastrine comes from alabaster, the smooth pale stone often used for statues and small lamps, so picture a statue's soft, pale skin or a lamp's gentle glow. That's why alabastrine means 'pale', 'smooth', and slightly 'see-through'.