xanthic · /ZAN-thik/ · /ˈzanθɪk/. adjective. Yellow or yellowish in color. A class of organic acids containing sulphur. From Greek xanthós (yellow). See also: Xanthippe, Socrates’ wife, now generally a scolding, nagging woman; canary; saffron; flaxen; fulvous; flavescent.
“The berimed tree and the high snowdrift with its xanthic hole have been removed by a silent property man.” (Vladimir Nabokov)
…seductive, tart, vert-
iginous, willowy,
xanthic (or yellow),
young, zebuesque are my
passengers fellow.(John Updike)
“…Ringbao glanced up at the sound, and—he missed the transition. When he looked again at the forward screen he saw nothing but a blur of xanthic light.” (Michael Flynn)
“It was an old woman, cigarette clutched between two xanthic-stained, twitching fingers.” (Helen Marshall)
“Socrates was now turning, twisting rapidly in place, his eyebank a wild xanthic blur…” (Ben H. Winters)
“What exactly is going on, exactly, ah old xanthic laugh, no, farewell mirth, good riddance, it was never droll.” (Samuel Beckett)
“‘Krishna!’ gasps Brahma. Turning to the children under his spell, he sees them all blue-skinned, clad in xanthic yellow, flutes raised in a mocking song.” (Ramesh Menon)
“Perhaps if we find his xanthic highness after a good meal he will be inclined to be a bit more lenient…” (Taylor H. Greenfield)
Saw the gathered mass of her xanthic tresses,
Mitra-bound, escape from the clasping fillet,
Float and shine as clouds in the sunset splendor,
Mists in the dawn-fire;
(Sappho interpreted by John Myers O’Hara)Urged by the peacocks of our vanity,
Up the frail tree of life we climb and grope;
About our heads the tragic branches slope,
Heavy with time and xanthic mystery.
(Louis Untermeyer)