ligneous

lig•ne•ous (LIG-nee-uhs)  adj

Definition:
consisting of or having the texture or appearance of wood; woody

lignum noun

Origin:
1626; from Latin ligneus, from lignum "wood"

Related:
Synonyms: arboraceous, wooden, xyloid, timbered, woody


Sentence Examples:
• The coarser metals are in gross abundance. Lately evidences of bituminous coal have been detected. My theory has ever been that coal is a ligneous formation. I told Col. Whitman, in times past, that the neighborhood of Dayton (Nevada) betrayed no present or previous manifestations of a ligneous foundation, and that hence I had no confidence in his lauded coal mines. -Roughing It, Mark Twain

• No sooner had the beautiful Madame Rabourdin decided to interfere in her husband's administrative advancement than she fathomed Clement des Lupeaulx's true character, and studied him thoughtfully to discover whether in this thin strip of deal there were ligneous fibres strong enough to let her lightly trip across it from the bureau to the department, from a salary of eight thousand a year to twelve thousand. -Bureaucracy, Honore de Balzac

• We are about to discuss a subject as critical and important to take up as the abdominal aorta; for should we offend the class we are about to portray, there are fifteen hundred medical students, arrived this week in London, ripe and ready to avenge themselves upon our devoted cranium, which, although hardened throughout its ligneous formation by many blows, would not be proof against their united efforts. -Punch,
Or The London Charivari, 1841

The Storyline
She didn't have long to worry about that though. Her bus arrived at her stop.She got off and walked the block and half to the bookstore. She entered, waved hello to a coworker, and paused for a moment at the counter in the center of the store, ran her hand over the smooth, polished ligneous surface and headed towards her office.


Sources: Free Dictionary, Online Etymology

Word-E: A Word-A-Day