resinous
Meaning
having the qualities of or containing resin
resembling resin in texture or appearance
Structure
Usage
the old pine table had a dark, resinous smell.
the artist used a resinous varnish to protect the painting.
the sap from the tree was thick and resinous.
Etymology
the word 'resinous' is a direct derivative of the noun 'resin', which entered english from old french 'resine', tracing back to latin 'resina'. the latin term is believed to be borrowed from greek 'rhētinē', referring to the pitch of pine trees, a substance whose origins are likely pre-greek. the adjectival suffix '-ous', of latin origin, is productively attached to nouns to denote possession or character. thus, the literal construction 'full of resin' logically evolved into the modern descriptive meanings pertaining to the properties, content, or appearance of resin.
Analysis
resin (from latin 'resina', meaning a sticky substance from plants); ous (from latin '-osus', a suffix forming adjectives meaning 'full of' or 'having the qualities of')