granitic

the word 'granitic' is a modern english formation derived from the noun 'granite'. 'granite' itself entered english from italian 'granito', meaning "grained stone", which originates from the latin verb 'granire', "to make grainy", based on the noun 'granum', "grain, seed". this latin root can be traced back to the proto-indo-european root ǵr̥h₂-nó-m, also meaning "grain". the suffix '-ic', of latin and greek origin, is a prolific adjective-forming element. thus, 'granitic' literally means "pertaining to or resembling granite", a direct reference to the rock's coarse-grained, crystalline texture. the figurative sense of being hard and unyielding logically extends from the well-known physical properties of the stone itself.

Structure: granit (granite) + ic (adjective suffix) granit (from italian 'granito', meaning "granite", itself from latin 'granum', meaning "grain") + ic (from latin '-icus', greek '-ikos', adjective-forming suffix meaning "of, pertaining to, or resembling")