— stalactitic /stal'euhk tit"ik/ , stalactitical , adj. — stalactitically , adv.
/steuh lak"tuyt, stal"euhk tuyt'/ , n.
a deposit, usually of calcium carbonate, shaped like an icicle, hanging from the roof of a cave or the like, and formed by the dripping of percolating calcareous water.
[ 1670-80; stalactites stalakt ( ós ) dripping ( stalag-, s. of stalássein to drip + -tos verbid suffix) + NL -ites -ITE 1 ]