amethyst Hear it!

amethyst definition

am·ethyst (am′i t̸hist)

noun

  1. a purple or violet variety of quartz, used in jewelry
  2. popularly a purple variety of corundum, used in jewelry
  3. purple or violet

Etymology: ME ametist < OFr ametiste < L amethystus < Gr amethystos, not drunken (the Greeks believed that the amethyst prevented intoxication) < a-, not + methystos, drunken < methyein, to be drunken < methy, strong drink < IE *medhu-, honey, mead

Related Forms:

  • amethystine am′·ethys′·tine (-t̸his′tin, -tēn′) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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