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smaragdus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word smaragdus

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
Varro
Borrowed from
Ancient Greek σμάραγδος
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek (σμάραγδος)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Ancient Greek σμάραγδος
English emerald
Latin smaragdus

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [smaˈraɡ.dʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [zmaˈraɡ.dus][1]

Forms

smaragdus m or f (genitive smaragdī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek σμάραγδος (smáragdos, “green gem”), itself from a Semitic source.[2][1][3] Köbler compares Hebrew בָּרֶקֶת (bāreqeṯ, “emerald”) and Akkadian barraqtu.[4] It is also written ⟨zmaragdus⟩, as in Lucretius, and is masculine or feminine.[2][5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Gaffiot's earliest citations are from Varro and Lucretius.[6] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC and Lucretius 96–55 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It was a name for various green gems, including the emerald, as in Lucretius, Ovid, Seneca and Pliny the Elder.[2][6] Isidore compares the beryl to it in greenness.[7]

British Medieval Latin used it for an emerald.[8] Through Medieval Latin esmaraldus and Old French esmeraude it gave English emerald about 1300, and English smaragd is a direct borrowing.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.[6][4]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses zmaragdus.[6][4]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder describes the gems.[6][4]
  • c. 1300 – English emerald is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A green gem; an emerald.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d e f Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Smaragdus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/smaragdus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·