Adjacent Words

Amethyst definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

AM'ETHYST, n. [L. amethystus; Gr. which the Greeks supposed to be formed from a neg. and to inebriate, from some supposed quality in the stone of resisting intoxication. Plin. 37.9, mentions an opinion that it takes its name from its color approaching that of wine, but not reaching it.]
A sub-species of quartz, of a violet blue color, of different degrees of intensity. It generally occurs crystallized in hexahedral prisms or pyramids; also in rolled fragments, composed of imperfect prismatic crystals. Its fracture is conchoidal or splintery. It is wrought into various articles of jewelry.
AM'ETHYST, in heraldry, signifies a purple color. It is the same, in a nobelman's escutcheon, as purpure, in a gentleman's and mercury, in that of a prince.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: of a moderate purple color n
1: a transparent purple variety of quartz; used as a gemstone

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English amatiste, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin amethystus, from Greek amethystos, literally, remedy against drunkenness, from a- + methyein to be drunk, from methy wine — more at mead Date: 13th century 1. a. a clear purple or bluish-violet variety of crystallized quartz that is often used as a jeweler's stone b. a deep purple variety of corundum 2. a moderate purple • amethystine adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. a precious stone of a violet or purple variety of quartz. Derivatives: amethystine adj. Etymology: ME f. OF ametiste f. L amethystus f. Gk amethustos not drunken, the stone being supposed to prevent intoxication

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Amethyst Am"e*thyst, [F. ametiste, amatiste, F. am['e]thyste, L. amethystus, fr. Gr. ? without drunkenness; as a noun, a remedy for drunkenness, the amethyst, supposed to have this power; 'a priv. + ? to be drunken, ? strong drink, wine. See Mead.] 1. (Min.) A variety of crystallized quartz, of a purple or bluish violet color, of different shades. It is much used as a jeweler's stone. Oriental amethyst, the violet-blue variety of transparent crystallized corundum or sapphire. 2. (Her.) A purple color in a nobleman's escutcheon, or coat of arms.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(amethysts) 1. Amethysts are clear purple stones, sometimes used to make jewellery. The necklace consisted of amethysts set in gold. ...rows of amethyst beads... N-VAR 2. Amethyst is used to describe things that are pale purple in colour. ...as the colours changed from green to amethyst. ...amethyst glass. COLOUR

Easton's Bible Dictionary

one of the precious stones in the breastplate of the high priest (Ex. 28:19; 39:12), and in the foundation of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:20). The ancients thought that this stone had the power of dispelling drunkenness in all who wore or touched it, and hence its Greek name formed from _a_, "privative," and _methuo_, "to get drunk." Its Jewish name, _ahlamah'_, was derived by the rabbins from the Hebrew word _halam_, "to dream," from its supposed power of causing the wearer to dream.

It is a pale-blue crystallized quartz, varying to a dark purple blue. It is found in Persia and India, also in different parts of Europe.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

am'-e-thist. See STONES, PRECIOUS.