# Thursday, April 28, 2005

What is the plural of chrysalis?

The strange conversations that Iman and I have in the elevator must amuse our neighbors. Today we've learned the plural of chrysalis:

chrysalis: [ krĭs´ə-lĭs ] n. pl. chrysalises or chrysalides [ krĭ-sǎl´ĭ-dēz' ]

  1. A pupa, especially of a moth or butterfly, enclosed in a firm case or cocoon.
  2. A protected stage of development.

[Latin chrysallis, from Greek khrusallis, khrusallid-, gold-colored pupa of a butterfly, from khrusos, gold ; see chryso-.]

[ chrysalis - yourDictionary.com - American Heritage Dictionary ]

And reinforced the fact that a chrysalis isn't a cocoon but the stage of development of the critter inside the cocoon.

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