gem English · revision 15332

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la gemma}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /d͡ʒɛm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|gemme]], [[bor|fro|gemme]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|gemma|t=bud; precious stone, jewel]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[itc-pro|*gebma-|t=bud, sprout]], related to [[lt|žembėti|t=to sprout]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The PIE root is uncertain: Watkins proposes [[ine-pro|*ǵembʰ-|t=tooth, nail]], others a root meaning to press.^(Etymonline) It replaced Old English [[m|ang|ġimm]], borrowed earlier from the same Latin word.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A precious stone: about 825 in the OED, for the Old English word;^(OED 1989) the French-derived gemme before 1300 in Barnhart, about 1300 in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Forms like ''iemme'', ''gimme'' persisted into the 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of a person, a rare or excellent example, it is from the late 13th century (about 1275).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A bud, especially a leaf bud, is from 1382, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) An object of rare beauty or worth, the choicest part of something, is from about 1560,^(OED 1989) and an engraved stone from 1638.^(OED 1989) The verb, to adorn with gems, is from about 1600 (1610 in Barnhart),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and gemstone is from about 1000.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 825 – ġimm, a precious stone.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1000 – gemstone.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1275 – a person of excellence.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1300 – gemme.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1382 – a bud (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1610 – to gem, adorn.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A precious or semiprecious stone, especially one cut and polished for [[jewellery]]; a [[jewel]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person or thing of great worth or beauty; a treasure.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A kind of small cake or muffin.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To adorn with gems.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gemless]]

+ * [[gemlike]]

+ * [[begem]]

+ * [[gemmy]]

+ * [[gemology]]

+ * [[gemstone]]

+ * [[gem clip]]

+ * [[Gem State]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gemma]]

+ * [[gemmology]]

+ * [[gemmation]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}