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tan·ta·lite

(tăntə-līt′)

A black to red-brown mineral, (Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)₂O₆, distinguished from columbite by the predominance of tantalum over niobium and used as an ore of both elements.

[TANTAL(UM) + -ITE¹.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

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Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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