Chalcedony CHALCEDONY, n. A subspecies of quartz, a mineral called also
white agate, resembling milk diluted with water, and more or less clouded
or opake, with veins, circles and spots. It is used in jewelry. The
varieties of chalcedony are common chalcedony, heliotrope, chrysoprase,
plasma, onyx, sard and sardonyx.
chalcedony
c.1305, from L. calcedonius, in Vulgate translating Gk. khalkedon in
Rev. xxi.19, found nowhere else. Connection with Chalcedon in Asia Minor
"is very doubtful" [O.E.D.].
chalcedony noun (plural-nies)
Etymology: Middle English calcedonie, a precious stone,
from Anglo-French, from Late Latin chalcedonius, from Greek
Chalkēdōn Chalcedon Date: 13th century
a translucent variety of quartz of various colors and waxy luster •
chalcedonicadjective
chalcedony n. a type of quartz occurring in several different forms, e.g. onyx, agate, tiger's eye, etc. Derivatives: chalcedonic adj. Etymology: ME f. L c(h)alcedonius f. Gk
khalkedon
chalcedony
kælˈsedənɪ n. a type of quartz occurring in several different
forms, e.g. onyx, agate, tiger's eye, etc. øøchalcedonic adj. [ME f. L
c(h)alcedonius f. Gk khalkedon]
Chalcedony \Chal*ced"o*ny\ (k[a^]l*s[e^]d"[-o]*n[y^] or
k[a^]l"s[-e]*d[-o]*n[y^]; 277), n.; pl. Chalcedonies
(-n[i^]z). [ L. chalcedonius, fr. Gr. CHalkhdw`n Chalcedon, a
town in Asia Minor, opposite to Byzantium: cf. calc['e]doine,
OE. calcidoine, casidoyne. Cf. Cassidony.] (Min.)
A cryptocrystalline, translucent variety of quartz, having
usually a whitish color, and a luster nearly like wax.
[Written also calcedony.]
Note: When chalcedony is variegated with with spots or
figures, or arranged in differently colored layers, it
is called agate; and if by reason of the thickness,
color, and arrangement of the layers it is suitable for
being carved into cameos, it is called onyx.
Chrysoprase is green chalcedony; carnelian, a flesh
red, and sard, a brownish red variety.
Chalcedony
Mentioned only in Rev. 21:19, as one of the precious stones in
the foundation of the New Jerusalem. The name of this stone is
derived from Chalcedon, where it is said to have been first
discovered. In modern mineralogy this is the name of an
agate-like quartz of a bluish colour. Pliny so names the Indian
ruby. The mineral intended in Revelation is probably the Hebrew
_nophekh_, translated "emerald" (Ex. 28:18; 39:11; Ezek. 27:16;
28:13). It is rendered "anthrax" in the LXX., and "carbunculus"
in the Vulgate. (See CARBUNCLE.)
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