amethyst

(ami 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

Origin: 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:

See amethyst in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A purple or violet form of transparent quartz used as a gemstone.
  2. A purple variety of corundum used as a gemstone.
  3. A moderate purple to grayish reddish purple.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English amatist

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin amethystus

Origin: , from Greek amethustos, not drunk or intoxicating, remedy for intoxication, amethyst

Origin: : a-, not; see a-1

Origin: + *methuskein, to intoxicate (from methuein, to be drunk, from methu, wine; see medhu- in Indo-European roots)

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Related Forms:

  • amˌe·thysˈtine (-thĭsˈtĭn, -tīnˌ) adjective

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amethyst

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