chrysalis
UK[ˈkrɪsəlɪs]US[ˈkrɪsəlɪs]
n
the hard-shelled pupa of a butterfly or moth, the stage between larva and adult.
n
a protected stage of development or a transitional state.
Morpheme Breakdown
chrys
alis
chrys
gold
alis
noun suffix
Etymology
the word chrysalis entered english in the early 17th century from latin 'chrȳsalis', which itself was borrowed from greek 'chrūsallís'. the greek term is a derivative of 'chrūsós', meaning gold. this etymology is directly descriptive, as the pupal cases of many butterflies exhibit a brilliant, metallic golden sheen. over time, the term generalized to refer to all lepidopteran pupae, regardless of color, and further extended metaphorically to signify any period of transformative seclusion or latent potential.
Analysis
Structure: chrys (gold) + alis (noun suffix)
chrys is from greek 'chrysos', meaning gold, referring to the metallic gold coloration found on some pupae. alis is a latin suffix used to form nouns, often indicating a state or condition.
Examples
the caterpillar encased itself in a silken chrysalis hanging from the twig.
after the merger, the company was in a chrysalis state, restructuring for its new future.
we found an empty chrysalis attached to the leaf, the butterfly having already emerged.